CVE-2016-3049 in OpenPages GRC Platform
Summary
by MITRE
IBM OpenPages GRC Platform 7.1, 7.2, and 7.3 is vulnerable to HTML injection. A remote attacker could inject malicious HTML code, which when viewed, would be executed in the victim's Web browser within the security context of the hosting site. IBM X-Force ID: 114712.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/20/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3049 affects IBM OpenPages GRC Platform versions 7.1, 7.2, and 7.3, representing a critical HTML injection flaw that exposes organizations to significant security risks. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) and specifically represents a stored XSS attack vector where malicious HTML code can be injected into the application and subsequently executed in users' browsers. The affected platform operates within a governance, risk management, and compliance environment, making it particularly concerning as it could compromise sensitive organizational data and operational integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize user input before rendering it within web pages. Attackers can exploit this weakness by submitting malicious HTML content through various input fields or APIs within the OpenPages platform. When other users view the affected content, their browsers execute the injected HTML code within the security context of the hosting site, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, perform actions on behalf of users, or redirect them to malicious sites. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means attackers do not require physical access or local network privileges to carry out attacks, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where the platform handles sensitive regulatory and compliance data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent access within the organization's GRC environment. Given that OpenPages is designed for enterprise governance and compliance management, successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to critical business processes, regulatory reporting data, and risk assessment information. The attack surface is particularly wide since the platform is likely used by multiple stakeholders including compliance officers, risk managers, and security personnel who may have elevated privileges within the system. This creates a scenario where attackers could escalate their privileges and gain deeper access to the organization's governance infrastructure.
Organizations should implement comprehensive mitigation strategies including immediate patch deployment from IBM, which addresses the underlying input validation issues. Network segmentation and web application firewalls should be configured to monitor and filter suspicious HTML content, while input sanitization should be strengthened across all user-facing interfaces. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other enterprise applications. The remediation process must also include user awareness training to recognize potential social engineering attempts that may leverage this vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should establish monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized content injection attempts and maintain detailed audit logs of user activities within the GRC platform to facilitate incident response and forensic analysis. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web applications and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.005 for command and script injection, emphasizing the need for robust application security controls in enterprise governance systems.