CVE-2016-2925 in WebSphere Portal
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IBM WebSphere Portal 6.1.0.x through 6.1.0.6 CF27, 6.1.5.x through 6.1.5.3 CF27, 7.x through 7.0.0.2 CF30, 8.0.0.x through 8.0.0.1 CF21, and 8.5.0 before CF10 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2022
The CVE-2016-2925 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM WebSphere Portal versions spanning multiple release lines including 6.1.0.x through 6.1.0.6 CF27, 6.1.5.x through 6.1.5.3 CF27, 7.x through 7.0.0.2 CF30, 8.0.0.x through 8.0.0.1 CF21, and 8.5.0 before CF10. This vulnerability specifically affects authenticated users who can manipulate URL parameters to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content into the portal environment. The flaw resides in the portal's insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it within web pages. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security that allows attackers to inject malicious code into web pages viewed by other users.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when authenticated users craft malicious URLs containing script payloads that bypass the portal's security controls. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script injection as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of the victim's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. Attackers can leverage this flaw to perform various malicious activities including stealing user sessions, defacing portal content, or conducting phishing attacks against other authenticated users. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where WebSphere Portal serves as a central collaboration platform, as it can compromise sensitive business information and user credentials. This flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 for Establishing Persistence and T1059 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables attackers to execute malicious scripts within the browser environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-2925 is significant for organizations using affected WebSphere Portal versions, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited by both internal and external attackers. The vulnerability's authentication requirement means that attackers must first obtain valid user credentials, but once achieved, they can leverage the XSS flaw to escalate their privileges or access sensitive data. Organizations may experience reputational damage, regulatory compliance issues, and potential financial losses due to compromised user data and system integrity. The vulnerability affects multiple major release lines of WebSphere Portal, indicating a widespread exposure across enterprise environments that rely on IBM's portal platform for business collaboration and content management. Security teams must consider this vulnerability as part of their broader threat landscape, particularly in environments where WebSphere Portal serves as a gateway for business-critical applications and user interactions. Organizations should implement immediate remediation measures including applying the latest cumulative fixes provided by IBM, implementing additional input validation controls, and monitoring for suspicious user activity that may indicate exploitation attempts.