CVE-2016-2980 in Sametime WebPlayer
Summary
by MITRE
The Sametime WebPlayer 8.5.2 and 9.0 is vulnerable to a script injection where a malicious site can inject their own script by exploiting a vulnerability in the way that the WebPlayer works. IBM X-Force ID: 113993.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2980 affects IBM Sametime WebPlayer versions 8.5.2 and 9.0, representing a critical cross-site scripting flaw that enables remote code execution through malicious script injection. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the WebPlayer's handling of user-supplied data, creating an avenue for attackers to inject malicious scripts into web applications that utilize this component. The flaw manifests when the WebPlayer processes untrusted data without proper sanitization, allowing attackers to manipulate the application's behavior through crafted input that gets executed in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows the typical XSS attack pattern where malicious scripts are injected into web applications through insecure input handling mechanisms. The WebPlayer's failure to properly sanitize or encode user-provided content creates a persistent vulnerability that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the victim's browser session. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the lack of proper input validation and output encoding that leads to cross-site scripting attacks. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the client-side web application level, where successful exploitation can lead to session hijacking, data theft, or further exploitation of the victim's browser environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including but not limited to credential theft, session manipulation, and data exfiltration. When exploited in a corporate environment where Sametime WebPlayer is deployed, attackers could potentially gain access to sensitive communications, steal session cookies, or redirect users to malicious sites that appear legitimate. The vulnerability affects organizations using IBM Sametime collaboration platforms, which are commonly deployed in enterprise environments for real-time communication, making the potential impact significant for businesses relying on these collaborative tools. The attack vector typically involves crafting malicious URLs or content that, when viewed by a victim using the vulnerable WebPlayer, executes the attacker's code within the victim's browser context.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the WebPlayer's processing pipeline. Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided security patches and updates released by IBM to address the identified XSS vulnerability. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and content security policies can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to prevent exploitation attempts. Security configurations should include strict input validation for all user-supplied data, proper output encoding of dynamic content, and regular security assessments of the WebPlayer implementation. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution aligns with the framework's emphasis on client-side exploitation techniques that leverage web application vulnerabilities. Organizations should also implement user education programs to recognize potentially malicious content and establish monitoring procedures to detect unusual network activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other web applications within the organization's attack surface.