CVE-2016-6056 in Call Center for Commerce
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Call Center for Commerce 9.3 and 9.4 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. IBM Reference #: 2000442.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/28/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-6056 affects IBM Call Center for Commerce versions 9.3 and 9.4, representing a critical cross-site scripting flaw that compromises the security integrity of the web-based user interface. This vulnerability resides within the application's input validation mechanisms, where user-supplied data is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to the browser, creating an exploitable vector for malicious code injection. The flaw specifically manifests when the application fails to adequately filter or escape special characters in user-controllable input fields, allowing attackers to inject JavaScript payloads that execute within the context of authenticated user sessions. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting as a weakness where applications fail to properly validate or escape user input before rendering it in web pages, making it a direct descendant of the fundamental web security principle that all user-supplied data must be treated as potentially malicious.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to manipulate the application's intended behavior and potentially access sensitive session information. When an authenticated user interacts with the vulnerable application, malicious JavaScript code injected through the XSS vector can capture session cookies, credentials, or other sensitive data transmitted within the trusted session context. This capability allows for session hijacking attacks where an attacker can impersonate legitimate users and gain unauthorized access to privileged functionalities. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which describes the use of JavaScript as a payload delivery mechanism, and T1531 which covers the use of credentials from web applications. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it targets the web UI layer where users perform legitimate business operations, making the exploitation more likely to succeed as users interact with the application regularly.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-6056 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's web interface. Organizations should deploy proper content security policies that restrict script execution and implement strict input sanitization routines that filter or escape special characters before processing user data. The recommended approach includes implementing proper HTML encoding for all dynamic content rendered in the user interface, utilizing secure coding practices that prevent direct injection of user input into JavaScript contexts, and deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious input patterns. Additionally, IBM has issued patches and updates for this vulnerability, and organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided security fixes to remediate the flaw. The security controls should also include regular security testing of web applications using automated scanning tools and manual penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the system architecture, ensuring that the application maintains a secure baseline against evolving web-based attack vectors that leverage similar weaknesses in input handling and output rendering processes.