CVE-2016-6124 in Kenexa LMS on Cloud
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Kenexa LMS on Cloud 13.1 and 13.2 - 13.2.4 could allow a remote attacker to upload arbitrary files, which could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code on the vulnerable server.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/09/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-6124 affects IBM Kenexa Learning Management System on Cloud versions 13.1 through 13.2.4, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote code execution through arbitrary file upload capabilities. This vulnerability resides within the web application's file handling mechanisms, specifically in the upload functionality that fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied file content and extensions. The flaw allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to bypass security controls and upload malicious files to the target system, potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive organizational data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and inadequate file type checking within the application's upload servlet or processing component. When users attempt to upload files through the web interface, the system fails to properly verify file extensions, content types, or file signatures against a whitelist of allowed formats. This weakness creates an opportunity for attackers to upload web shells, malicious scripts, or other executable payloads that can be executed within the context of the web server process. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-434, which describes the weakness of unrestricted file upload, and represents a classic path to remote code execution through malicious file delivery.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to organizations utilizing IBM Kenexa LMS on Cloud services, as it allows attackers to gain persistent access to the underlying infrastructure without requiring valid credentials. Once successful, the attacker can execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the web application, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system enumeration, privilege escalation, and establishment of backdoors for continued access. The impact extends beyond immediate code execution to include potential lateral movement within the network, as the compromised system may serve as a foothold for further attacks against adjacent systems. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1190 for exploitation of remote services and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches, implementing strict file upload validation mechanisms, and restricting upload permissions to authenticated users only. Additional protective measures include configuring web application firewalls to monitor and block suspicious upload patterns, implementing content validation for uploaded files, and conducting regular security assessments of the application's file handling processes. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and the principle of least privilege in web application security, as it could have been prevented through basic security controls that ensure only authorized and validated file types are accepted for upload operations.