CVE-2017-1106 in Curam Social Program Management
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Curam Social Program Management 5.2, 6.0, and 7.0 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: 120744.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2020
IBM Curam Social Program Management versions 5.2, 6.0, and 7.0 contain a cross-site scripting vulnerability that represents a critical security weakness in the web user interface. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's web components, allowing malicious actors to inject malicious JavaScript code through user-controllable parameters. The flaw exists in the application's handling of user-supplied data that is subsequently rendered in web pages without proper sanitization or encoding, creating an environment where attackers can execute arbitrary code within the context of a victim's browser session.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability enables attackers to manipulate the web application's behavior by injecting malicious scripts that can capture user credentials, session tokens, or other sensitive information. When a victim interacts with a maliciously crafted URL or page element containing the injected JavaScript, the script executes within the victim's browser context, potentially compromising the integrity of the trusted session. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The attack vector typically involves crafting malicious input that gets stored or reflected in the application's web interface, where it is then executed by other users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can lead to complete session hijacking and unauthorized access to sensitive social program management data. Attackers can leverage this weakness to impersonate legitimate users, access confidential information, modify program records, or perform administrative actions within the Curam system. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where multiple users interact with the social program management platform, as a single compromised session can provide access to a broader set of data and functionalities. This risk is compounded by the fact that the vulnerability affects multiple versions of the software, indicating a persistent flaw in the application's security architecture.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation controls, output encoding mechanisms, and regular security assessments of the web application components. The recommended approach involves deploying web application firewalls, implementing proper content security policies, and ensuring all user inputs are properly sanitized before processing. Security teams should also consider implementing the principle of least privilege and monitoring for suspicious activities within the application logs. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which focuses on credential access through web application vulnerabilities, and organizations should treat this as a high-priority remediation item within their security operations. The IBM X-Force ID 120744 further emphasizes the severity of this issue and the need for immediate attention from security teams managing these software versions.