CVE-2016-2995 in Connections
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Web UI in IBM Connections 4.0 through CR4, 4.5 through CR5, 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-2016-2997, CVE-2016-3005, and CVE-2016-3010.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2995 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the web user interface of IBM Connections software across multiple versions including 4.0 through CR4, 4.5 through CR5, 5.0 before CR4, and 5.5 before 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 enables remote authenticated attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code into the application's web interface, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity. Unlike related vulnerabilities such as CVE-2016-2997, CVE-2016-3005, and CVE-2016-3010, this particular flaw manifests through distinct attack vectors that specifically target the web user interface components of the IBM Connections platform.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when authenticated users interact with the web interface of IBM Connections, providing input that is not adequately sanitized or validated before being rendered back to other users. This creates an environment where malicious scripts can be executed in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of victims. The attack requires authentication to the system, making it a privileged vulnerability that can be particularly dangerous when exploited by insiders or compromised accounts. The flaw exists in the input handling mechanisms of the web UI, where user-supplied data flows through the application without sufficient sanitization to prevent the execution of malicious code.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations utilizing IBM Connections for collaboration and social networking functions. The impact extends beyond simple script execution to potentially compromise the entire user base that interacts with the platform. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions within the application on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability's presence in multiple versions of IBM Connections indicates a widespread exposure that could affect organizations across different deployment scenarios, from small businesses to large enterprises relying on the platform for internal communications and collaboration. The authenticated nature of the attack means that the threat actor must first gain valid credentials, but once obtained, the vulnerability provides a persistent means of exploitation.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches for IBM Connections versions affected by this vulnerability. The remediation process should involve updating to the latest cumulative releases that address the XSS flaw, specifically targeting the versions mentioned in the CVE description. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection by monitoring and filtering suspicious requests before they reach the vulnerable application components. Input validation and output encoding should be strengthened throughout the application to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future. Security awareness training for administrators and users can help identify potential exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments should include testing for XSS vulnerabilities in web applications. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious HTML email attachments and T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter through PowerShell, highlighting the need for comprehensive defensive measures across multiple attack vectors.