CVE-2016-2992 in InfoSphere BigInsights
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Infosphere BigInsights 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 • 08/09/2020
IBM Infosphere BigInsights contains a cross-site scripting vulnerability that arises from insufficient input validation and output encoding within its web user interface. This flaw exists when the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages, allowing malicious actors to inject malicious javascript code through web forms, URL parameters, or other input vectors. The vulnerability is classified as a classic xss flaw that enables attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of a victim's browser session, potentially compromising the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive information processed by the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user inputs in the web application layer where user data is directly incorporated into dynamic web content without proper encoding or validation mechanisms. When users interact with the BigInsights web interface and provide input that is not properly escaped or validated, the application renders this data directly into html output without appropriate security measures such as html entity encoding or content security policy enforcement. This creates a persistent vulnerability where malicious payloads can be stored and executed across multiple sessions, particularly when the application displays user-generated content without proper security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it provides attackers with the capability to hijack user sessions and potentially access sensitive data within the trusted session context. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or modify the application's behavior to exfiltrate data. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where BigInsights systems often handle sensitive business intelligence data, customer information, and operational metrics. When combined with other attack vectors, this xss vulnerability can serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, including privilege escalation or lateral movement within the network infrastructure.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, including input validation, output encoding, and content security policy enforcement. Organizations should ensure that all user inputs are properly sanitized using whitelist validation techniques and that all dynamic content is encoded according to the context where it will be rendered. The implementation of proper content security policies can prevent unauthorized script execution even if input validation fails. Additionally, regular security testing including automated scanning and manual penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a significant risk under the ATT&CK framework's credential access and persistence tactics where attackers leverage web-based vulnerabilities to maintain access to enterprise systems. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious javascript activity within their web applications to detect and prevent exploitation attempts.