CVE-2016-5940 in Kenexa LCMS Premier on Cloud
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Kenexa LMS on Cloud 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
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5940 affects IBM Kenexa Learning Management System (LMS) when deployed in cloud environments, representing a critical cross-site scripting flaw that compromises application security. This vulnerability resides within the web user interface components of the system, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors to inject persistent JavaScript code into the application's response. The flaw specifically impacts the system's ability to properly sanitize user input before rendering it within web pages, allowing attackers to manipulate the intended behavior of the application through crafted malicious payloads.
The technical implementation of this cross-site scripting vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the IBM Kenexa LMS web interface. When user-supplied data is not properly sanitized before being rendered in HTML contexts, attackers can inject malicious scripts that execute within the browser context of legitimate users. This weakness enables attackers to manipulate the application's functionality in ways that can compromise user sessions and potentially escalate privileges. The vulnerability specifically affects the cloud-deployed version of the system, indicating that the issue may be related to how the application handles dynamic content rendering or user input processing in cloud-hosted environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it creates opportunities for session hijacking and credential theft within trusted user sessions. When attackers successfully exploit this XSS flaw, they can steal session cookies, modify application behavior, and potentially access sensitive learning management data. The vulnerability's potential for credential disclosure makes it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where the LMS likely contains confidential employee training records, performance data, and other sensitive information. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to the system, potentially compromising the integrity of the entire learning management ecosystem.
Organizations utilizing IBM Kenexa LMS in cloud deployments should prioritize immediate remediation through official patches provided by IBM, as this vulnerability represents a significant threat to application security. The mitigation strategy should include implementing comprehensive input validation mechanisms, deploying proper output encoding for all user-supplied content, and establishing robust web application firewall rules to detect and prevent XSS attacks. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their cloud environments to identify similar vulnerabilities and ensure proper security controls are in place. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices that should be addressed through comprehensive security hardening measures. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059.007 technique for script injection, highlighting its potential for lateral movement and persistent access within compromised environments.