CVE-2016-6118 in Emptoris Supplier Lifecycle Management
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Emptoris Supplier Lifecycle Management 10.1.0.x 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 X-Force ID: 118356.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/06/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-6118 affects IBM Emptoris Supplier Lifecycle Management version 10.1.0.x, representing a critical cross-site scripting flaw that undermines the security integrity of the web-based interface. This vulnerability resides within the application's input validation mechanisms, where user-supplied data fails to be properly sanitized before being rendered back to the browser. The flaw specifically manifests when the application processes user input through web forms or parameter fields without adequate filtering or encoding of potentially malicious script content. This weakness creates an exploitable condition where attackers can inject JavaScript code that executes within the context of a victim's browser session, fundamentally compromising the application's security model.
The technical implementation of this cross-site scripting vulnerability enables attackers to manipulate the web application's behavior by injecting malicious scripts that can capture user credentials, hijack sessions, or redirect users to malicious sites. The vulnerability operates at the application layer where user input is processed and displayed without proper sanitization, creating a persistent threat vector that can be exploited through various attack vectors including email links, form submissions, or direct URL manipulation. The flaw allows for the execution of arbitrary JavaScript code within the victim's browser context, which can leverage the existing session cookies and authentication tokens to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users. This represents a classic reflected XSS vulnerability where malicious input is immediately reflected back to the user's browser without proper encoding or validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution to encompass potential credential theft, session hijacking, and privilege escalation within the supplier lifecycle management environment. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, capture login credentials, or modify application behavior to gain unauthorized access to sensitive supplier data and business processes. The Trusted Session compromise aspect of this vulnerability is particularly concerning as it allows attackers to operate within the legitimate user context, making detection more difficult and potentially enabling long-term access to the supplier management system. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the application by undermining the trust model that users place in the system, potentially leading to data breaches, unauthorized supplier modifications, or disruption of business processes.
Organizations utilizing IBM Emptoris Supplier Lifecycle Management should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent script injection. The recommended remediation involves implementing proper HTML encoding for all user-supplied input before rendering in the web interface, utilizing Content Security Policy headers to restrict script execution, and implementing comprehensive input sanitization routines. Additionally, regular security assessments and web application firewalls should be deployed to monitor and block suspicious requests. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws and corresponds to techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under T1059.007 for scripting and T1566 for phishing attacks that could leverage such vulnerabilities to establish persistent access to enterprise supplier management systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and input validation in web applications, particularly in business-critical systems where supplier data integrity and user authentication security are paramount.