CVE-2017-1199 in Infosphere Master Data Management Server
Summary
by MITRE
IBM InfoSphere Master Data Management Server 10.0, 11.0, 11.3, 11.4, 11.5, and 11.6 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: 123674.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/07/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1199 affects IBM InfoSphere Master Data Management Server versions 10.0 through 11.6, representing a critical cross-site scripting flaw that compromises the integrity of the web-based user interface. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically manifesting as a reflected XSS attack vector that enables malicious actors to inject client-side scripts into web applications. The flaw exists in the server's web user interface handling mechanism, where input validation is insufficient to prevent the execution of unauthorized JavaScript code within the context of authenticated sessions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a malicious user crafts specially formatted input that gets reflected back to the victim's browser without proper sanitization or encoding. This allows attackers to inject JavaScript payloads that can execute within the victim's browser session, leveraging the trust relationship between the user and the application. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the context of a trusted session, meaning that any credentials or sensitive information processed within that session could potentially be captured or manipulated by the injected JavaScript code. The attack vector typically involves sending malicious links or data through web forms, URL parameters, or other input mechanisms that the application fails to properly validate or sanitize.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable more sophisticated attack chains including session hijacking, credential theft, and unauthorized data manipulation. When an authenticated user interacts with the vulnerable application, the injected JavaScript code can access session cookies, form data, and other sensitive information that the user has access to within the application context. This creates a significant risk for organizations relying on InfoSphere Master Data Management for critical data governance operations, as attackers could potentially gain access to master data records, user credentials, and other sensitive information. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where users have elevated privileges or access to sensitive master data, amplifying the potential damage from such an attack.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, beginning with immediate patching of affected systems to the latest IBM security updates. The recommended mitigation strategies include implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms, deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, and conducting regular security assessments of web applications. Additionally, organizations should enforce strict content security policies that prevent the execution of inline scripts and limit the sources from which scripts can be loaded. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for Scripting and T1531 for Account Access via credential theft, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security controls including network segmentation, privileged access management, and continuous monitoring of application logs for signs of exploitation attempts. Regular security awareness training for users and administrators is also crucial to prevent social engineering attacks that may leverage this vulnerability to gain initial access to the system.