CVE-2016-2956 in Connections
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Web UI in IBM Connections 5.0 before CR4 and 5.5 before CR1 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-2954 and CVE-2016-3008.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2956 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the web user interface of IBM Connections versions 5.0 prior to CR4 and 5.5 prior to CR1. This security weakness falls under the broader category of CWE-79 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into web page content. The vulnerability affects authenticated users who can leverage this flaw to execute malicious scripts within the context of other users' sessions, creating a significant risk for organizations relying on IBM Connections for collaborative work environments.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability occurs through unspecified vectors within the web interface components of IBM Connections, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the application's response. This type of vulnerability specifically targets the web user interface layer where user input is processed and rendered back to clients, creating a pathway for malicious code execution. Unlike related vulnerabilities CVE-2016-2954 and CVE-2016-3008, this flaw operates through different code paths and attack vectors, making it a distinct threat within the IBM Connections security landscape. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning because it requires only authenticated access, meaning that attackers who have valid user credentials can exploit this weakness.
Operationally, the consequences of this vulnerability extend beyond simple data theft or session hijacking. Attackers could leverage this XSS flaw to perform actions on behalf of authenticated users, potentially accessing sensitive information, modifying content, or creating malicious links that could propagate throughout the organization's collaboration environment. The attack surface is particularly broad given that IBM Connections serves as a platform for document sharing, social networking, and collaborative workspaces where users frequently interact with content and share information. This vulnerability could enable attackers to establish persistent access patterns within the organization's collaborative infrastructure, potentially leading to data breaches or unauthorized modifications of shared resources.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, beginning with immediate deployment of available patches and cumulative releases for IBM Connections 5.0 CR4 and 5.5 CR1. The mitigation strategy should include input validation and output encoding mechanisms that prevent malicious scripts from being executed within the web interface. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies that can detect and block suspicious script injections. From an operational perspective, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application's web interface components. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically targeting web application interfaces where adversaries can execute malicious code through user input. Organizations should also consider implementing user access controls and monitoring mechanisms to detect unusual activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.