CVE-2016-9719 in InfoSphere Master Data Management
Summary
by MITRE
IBM InfoSphere Master Data Management Server 10.1. 11.0. 11.3, 11.4, 11.5, and 11.6 could allow a remote attacker to hijack the clicking action of the victim. By persuading a victim to visit a malicious Web site, a remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability to hijack the victim's click actions and possibly launch further attacks against the victim. IBM X-Force ID: 119733.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/06/2021
This vulnerability resides within IBM InfoSphere Master Data Management Server versions 10.1 through 11.6, representing a significant cross-site scripting flaw that enables remote attackers to manipulate user interactions through click hijacking techniques. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web interface components of the MDM server, creating an environment where malicious web content can intercept and redirect user click events. The flaw specifically affects the server's web-based administrative and user interfaces, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that rely on these management consoles for critical data operations. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting issues, and more specifically aligns with CWE-939 which addresses web application security issues related to user interaction manipulation. The attack vector requires social engineering to convince victims to navigate to malicious web pages, where the attacker's code can then intercept click events and redirect user actions to unintended destinations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple session hijacking, as it creates a persistent threat vector that could enable attackers to execute further malicious activities through the compromised user sessions. When a victim clicks on legitimate interface elements, the attacker's code can intercept these actions and redirect them to malicious endpoints, potentially allowing unauthorized access to sensitive data management functions. This vulnerability particularly threatens organizations using MDM servers for critical data governance operations, as successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized data modification, access to confidential master data, or privilege escalation within the MDM environment. The attack scenario typically involves an attacker crafting a malicious web page that leverages the vulnerability to capture user clicks and redirect them to attacker-controlled resources, potentially enabling credential theft, data exfiltration, or further exploitation of the MDM server through legitimate administrative functions.
Organizations should implement comprehensive mitigation strategies that include immediate patching of affected IBM InfoSphere MDM Server versions, deployment of web application firewalls to monitor and filter malicious traffic, and implementation of strict input validation controls within the web interfaces. Network segmentation and access controls should be enhanced to limit exposure of MDM server interfaces to untrusted networks, while user education programs should be established to raise awareness about suspicious web content and social engineering attacks. Security monitoring should be strengthened to detect anomalous click patterns or unexpected redirections within the MDM web interfaces. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics aligned with ATT&CK technique T1531, which involves the use of malicious web content to manipulate user interactions, and T1071.001 which addresses application layer protocol usage through web services. Organizations should also consider implementing browser security controls such as content security policies and disabling unnecessary web interface features to minimize attack surface, while maintaining regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar weaknesses in other enterprise applications that may present similar click hijacking risks.