CVE-2016-8946 in Emptoris Sourcing
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Emptoris Sourcing 9.5.x through 10.1.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: 118833.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/01/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8946 affects IBM Emptoris Sourcing versions 9.5.x through 10.1.x, representing a critical cross-site scripting flaw that undermines the application's web interface security. This vulnerability exists within the web user interface of the sourcing platform, which is designed for enterprise procurement and supplier management operations. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into the application's web pages, fundamentally compromising the integrity of the user interface and potentially enabling unauthorized access to sensitive data within trusted sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the web application's user interface components. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that are then executed in the context of authenticated users' browsers. The vulnerability specifically targets the web UI layer where user inputs are not properly sanitized before being rendered back to the browser, creating an environment where JavaScript code can be injected and executed without proper authorization. This flaw aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as weaknesses in web applications that fail to properly validate or encode user-supplied data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it creates potential pathways for credential theft and session hijacking within trusted environments. When authenticated users interact with the compromised application, their browser sessions become vulnerable to manipulation by attackers who can execute JavaScript code in the context of the user's authenticated session. This enables malicious actors to potentially steal session cookies, access sensitive procurement data, and perform unauthorized actions within the sourcing platform. The threat is particularly severe in enterprise environments where procurement systems contain sensitive financial and supplier information, making this vulnerability a significant concern for organizations relying on IBM Emptoris Sourcing for their sourcing operations.
The exploitation of this vulnerability follows standard XSS attack patterns as outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework's technique T1531 for "Account Access Removal" and T1071.3 for "Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols." Attackers typically leverage this weakness by embedding malicious scripts in form fields, URL parameters, or other user-controllable input areas within the application. The IBM X-Force ID 118833 further validates the severity and specific nature of this vulnerability, indicating that it was recognized by IBM's security team as requiring immediate attention. Organizations using affected versions of IBM Emptoris Sourcing should implement immediate mitigations including input validation improvements, output encoding mechanisms, and comprehensive security testing of user interface components to prevent unauthorized code execution.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding controls across all user-facing web interfaces. Organizations should deploy web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns, implement proper content security policies to restrict script execution, and conduct regular security assessments of the application's web components. The remediation process requires updating to patched versions of IBM Emptoris Sourcing, applying security patches from IBM, and implementing comprehensive testing procedures to ensure that all user inputs are properly sanitized before processing. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing security awareness training for administrators and developers to recognize potential XSS vulnerabilities in custom web applications built on or integrated with the sourcing platform, as the principles of XSS prevention apply broadly across enterprise web applications and align with industry security standards such as those defined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks.