CVE-2016-5951 in Kenexa LCMS Premier on Cloud
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Kenexa LCMS Premier 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-2016-5951 affects IBM Kenexa LCMS Premier on Cloud, a cloud-based learning content management system that enables organizations to create, manage, and deliver learning content. This particular vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw that compromises the security integrity of the web interface. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's user interface, allowing malicious actors to inject malicious JavaScript code through user-controllable input fields.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability enables attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of a victim's browser session. This occurs when user-supplied data is not properly sanitized before being rendered in the web interface, creating an environment where malicious scripts can be injected and subsequently executed. The flaw specifically impacts the web user interface components where user input is processed and displayed, allowing for the injection of script tags or other malicious code sequences that can manipulate the browser's behavior. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a critical weakness in web application security.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it creates opportunities for more sophisticated attacks targeting session management and credential exposure. When a malicious script executes within a user's browser session, it can potentially access and exfiltrate session cookies, authentication tokens, or other sensitive data that the user has access to within the trusted application environment. This capability enables attackers to hijack user sessions and impersonate legitimate users, potentially gaining access to restricted content, administrative functions, or sensitive learning data. The vulnerability particularly affects the cloud-based deployment model where multiple users share the same application instance, amplifying the potential impact of a successful attack.
Organizations utilizing IBM Kenexa LCMS Premier on Cloud should implement immediate mitigations including comprehensive input validation and output encoding across all user-controllable input fields within the web application. The recommended approach involves implementing strict content security policies, proper HTML escaping mechanisms, and sanitization of all user-supplied data before rendering in the browser context. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and security monitoring solutions that can detect and prevent malicious script injection attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which describes social engineering attacks through malicious content delivery, specifically targeting web application interfaces. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to ensure proper implementation of security controls and to identify any potential variants of this vulnerability that may exist within the application's codebase.