CVE-2016-2939 in iNotes
Summary
by MITRE
IBM iNotes is vulnerable to cross-site scripting. This vulnerability allows users to embed arbitrary JavaScript code in the Web UI thus altering the intended functionality potentially leading to credentials disclosure within a trusted session.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/15/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2939 affects IBM iNotes, a web-based email and collaboration application that integrates with IBM Domino server environments. This cross-site scripting vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of user sessions and potentially compromises sensitive information within trusted network environments. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web interface components of iNotes, creating opportunities for malicious actors to inject malicious JavaScript code through user-controllable input fields.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user-supplied data within the web application's rendering pipeline. When users interact with iNotes web interface elements such as email composition forms, calendar entries, or other interactive components, the application fails to properly escape or validate input data before rendering it back to the user's browser. This allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that execute within the context of authenticated user sessions, leveraging the principle of stored cross-site scripting where the malicious code persists and executes whenever the vulnerable page is accessed.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-2939 extends beyond simple functionality alteration, as it enables attackers to exploit the trust relationship between users and the application. When successfully exploited, the vulnerability can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, and unauthorized access to sensitive email communications, calendar entries, and contact information. The attack vector typically involves an attacker submitting malicious JavaScript code through email composition fields or other user-input areas, which then executes when other users view the compromised content. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications.
From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to several ATT&CK techniques including T1566 for initial access through malicious email content and T1531 for account access using stolen credentials. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be automated, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where iNotes serves as a primary collaboration platform. Organizations utilizing IBM iNotes are at risk of insider threats and external attacks that can leverage this vulnerability to gain persistent access to sensitive corporate communications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-2939 should include immediate implementation of input validation and output encoding controls within the web application. Organizations must ensure that all user-supplied content undergoes proper sanitization before being rendered in the browser context. IBM released patches and updates addressing this vulnerability, which should be deployed immediately to protect against exploitation. Additional defensive measures include implementing content security policies, disabling unnecessary web features, and conducting regular security assessments of web applications. Network segmentation and monitoring for suspicious JavaScript execution patterns can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts.