CVE-2016-2997 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-2016-2995, CVE-2016-3005, and CVE-2016-3010.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2997 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 issue falls under the 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 execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code, posing significant security risks to organizations relying on IBM Connections for collaboration and social networking functionalities.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web interface components of IBM Connections. When authenticated users interact with the system's web UI, malicious input can be processed and subsequently rendered without proper sanitization, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious payloads. Unlike other related vulnerabilities such as CVE-2016-2995, CVE-2016-3005, and CVE-2016-3010, this particular flaw manifests through different attack vectors, indicating a distinct weakness in the application's security architecture. The vulnerability operates at the presentation layer where user-generated content is displayed, making it particularly dangerous as it can compromise user sessions and potentially escalate to more severe attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-2997 extends beyond simple data theft or display manipulation. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, or redirect users to malicious websites. The authenticated nature of the attack means that an attacker must first obtain valid credentials, but once achieved, they can exploit this vulnerability to compromise the integrity of the entire collaboration platform. This threat is particularly concerning for enterprise environments where IBM Connections serves as a critical tool for business communication and knowledge sharing. The vulnerability can be exploited to deliver malware, conduct phishing attacks, or gain unauthorized access to confidential business information, potentially leading to significant financial and reputational damage.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through official IBM security patches and updates. The mitigation strategy should include implementing robust input validation mechanisms, proper output encoding for all user-supplied content, and regular security assessments of the web application. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566 - Phishing, as attackers can use the XSS flaw to execute malicious commands and deliver phishing payloads. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional layers of protection against similar vulnerabilities in the future.