CVE-2016-5938 in Kenexa LCMS Premier on Cloud
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Kenexa LMS on Cloud allows web pages to be stored locally which can be read by another user on the system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/09/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5938 affects IBM Kenexa Learning Management System (LMS) when deployed in cloud environments, presenting a critical data exposure risk through improper local storage handling. This flaw enables malicious actors or compromised users to exploit the system's file storage mechanisms, creating a situation where web content generated by one user becomes accessible to other system users. The vulnerability stems from inadequate isolation controls between user sessions and local storage operations, allowing cross-user data leakage that violates fundamental security principles of information separation and access control.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the system's failure to properly sanitize or isolate local storage operations within the cloud-delivered LMS environment. When web pages or content are stored locally on the system, the application does not enforce proper user boundaries or access controls that would prevent one user's local data from being accessible to another user. This represents a classic case of insufficient access control enforcement, which aligns with CWE-284 Access Control Issues, specifically targeting improper access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized information access. The flaw exists at the application level where local storage operations lack proper user context awareness and isolation enforcement.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data leakage to encompass potential compromise of sensitive learning management information, user privacy violations, and breach of organizational security policies. Attackers could exploit this weakness to access confidential learning materials, user progress data, assessment results, or personal information stored in the local storage areas. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where multiple users share the same system resources or where proper session isolation has not been implemented, making it a significant concern for organizations relying on cloud-based learning management systems. The risk is amplified in multi-tenant environments where user data isolation is paramount for compliance with data protection regulations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust access control mechanisms, proper session isolation, and secure local storage handling practices. Organizations should ensure that all local storage operations within the LMS environment enforce strict user boundaries and implement proper access control lists that prevent cross-user data access. The system should validate and sanitize all local storage operations to ensure that user-specific data remains isolated. Additionally, implementing proper logging and monitoring of local storage access patterns can help detect unauthorized access attempts. Security measures should align with ATT&CK framework techniques related to privilege escalation and credential access, as this vulnerability could enable unauthorized access to user data through local storage manipulation. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to verify that proper isolation controls are in place and functioning correctly, ensuring that user data remains protected in shared cloud environments.