CVE-2016-8948 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: 118835.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/01/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8948 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 weakness enables malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into the user interface, fundamentally compromising the integrity of the web application's output. The vulnerability exists within the application's input validation mechanisms, where user-supplied data is not properly sanitized before being rendered in the browser environment. Such a flaw directly violates security principles established in the OWASP Top Ten, specifically targeting the XSS category that consistently ranks among the most prevalent web application vulnerabilities.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input that gets processed and displayed within the web application's user interface without proper encoding or validation. When legitimate users view pages containing this malicious content, their browsers execute the embedded JavaScript code within the context of their active session. This execution context is particularly dangerous because it operates under the privileges and trust level of the authenticated user, potentially enabling attackers to access sensitive information including session cookies, authentication tokens, and other credential data. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple code injection as it can facilitate session hijacking, credential theft, and privilege escalation within the application's trusted environment.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability are severe for organizations relying on IBM Emptoris Sourcing for procurement and sourcing activities. Attackers could leverage this XSS flaw to steal user credentials and maintain persistent access to the procurement system, potentially compromising sensitive supplier data, pricing information, and business-critical procurement processes. The vulnerability's presence in versions 9.5.x through 10.1.x suggests a prolonged exposure period, during which numerous organizations may have remained vulnerable without proper patching or mitigation measures. This weakness creates opportunities for attackers to establish persistent footholds within enterprise networks, particularly when the application is used by privileged users with elevated access rights to procurement systems and sensitive business data.
Organizations should implement comprehensive mitigation strategies including immediate patching of affected IBM Emptoris Sourcing versions to address the XSS vulnerability. Input validation and output encoding mechanisms must be strengthened to prevent malicious JavaScript from being executed within the application's interface. Security headers such as Content Security Policy should be implemented to restrict script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application's codebase. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a technique that attackers frequently employ to establish initial access and maintain persistence within enterprise environments. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious input patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts.