CVE-2016-2979 in Sametime Meeting Server
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Sametime Meeting Server 8.5.2 and 9.0 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. IBM X-Force ID: 113945.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2979 affects IBM Sametime Meeting Server versions 8.5.2 and 9.0, representing a critical cross-site scripting flaw that compromises the security of web-based communication platforms. This vulnerability resides within the web user interface of the Sametime Meeting Server, which serves as a collaborative platform for video conferencing and instant messaging within enterprise environments. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it within the web interface, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject malicious JavaScript code into the application's response.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that exploit the lack of proper sanitization in the web UI components of the Sametime server. When legitimate users interact with the vulnerable application, they may inadvertently execute malicious JavaScript code embedded within specially crafted requests or messages. This cross-site scripting vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the web interface components that handle user input, making it particularly dangerous within enterprise environments where users trust the platform and may unknowingly interact with malicious content. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79 as Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which directly relates to the failure to properly encode or escape user-controllable data before it is rendered in web pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can potentially lead to session hijacking and credential theft within trusted user sessions. Attackers can leverage the XSS capability to steal session cookies, which would allow them to impersonate legitimate users and gain unauthorized access to the Sametime meeting platform. This compromise can result in unauthorized access to meeting rooms, the ability to view or modify meeting content, and potential access to sensitive communication data shared through the platform. The vulnerability particularly affects collaborative environments where users may be tricked into clicking malicious links or viewing compromised content, making it a significant threat to enterprise security. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1531 as "Account Access Removal" and T1071.004 as "Application Layer Protocol: DNS" when attackers use the compromised session to establish persistent access to the platform.
Organizations utilizing IBM Sametime Meeting Server should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability, including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional protective layers, while security awareness training for users can help prevent social engineering attacks that may exploit this vulnerability. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and proper input validation mechanisms should be enforced to prevent future occurrences of similar vulnerabilities. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate potential XSS vulnerabilities in other web applications within the enterprise infrastructure, ensuring comprehensive protection against this class of attack as defined in OWASP Top Ten Project's A03:2021 - Injection and A07:2021 - Identification and Authentication Failures.