CVE-2017-1202 in BigFix Compliance
Summary
by MITRE
IBM BigFix Compliance 1.7 through 1.9.91 (TEMA SUAv1 SCA SCM) is vulnerable to HTML injection. A remote attacker could inject malicious HTML code, which when viewed, would be executed in the victim's Web browser within the security context of the hosting site. IBM X-Force ID: 123677.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2023
IBM BigFix Compliance versions 1.7 through 1.9.91 contains a critical HTML injection vulnerability that represents a significant security risk for organizations relying on this compliance management platform. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper sanitization or encoding. The flaw exists within the TEMA SUAv1 SCA SCM components of the BigFix suite, making it particularly concerning for enterprises that depend on comprehensive compliance monitoring and reporting capabilities. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious HTML code into input fields or parameters that are subsequently rendered in web interfaces, creating a persistent threat vector that can compromise user sessions and access controls.
The technical execution of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of web application input validation mechanisms within the BigFix Compliance interface. When legitimate users view content that contains the injected HTML payload, the malicious code executes within the browser context of the hosting site, effectively bypassing normal security boundaries. This allows attackers to perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or executing arbitrary JavaScript code in the victim's browser. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not require physical access or local network privileges to carry out attacks, significantly expanding the potential attack surface. The security context of the hosting site provides attackers with elevated privileges that could potentially allow them to access sensitive compliance data, modify configuration settings, or escalate their privileges within the compliance management environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it can severely compromise the integrity of compliance reporting and monitoring processes that organizations depend on for regulatory adherence. Organizations using BigFix Compliance for security assessments, audit tracking, and regulatory compliance may find their data integrity compromised, potentially leading to failed compliance audits or regulatory violations. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the platform's web interface, which serves as the primary means for security administrators to monitor and manage compliance activities across enterprise environments. This creates a cascading effect where the compromise of a single web interface element can undermine the entire compliance monitoring infrastructure. Furthermore, the vulnerability's persistence in multiple versions suggests a systemic issue with input validation implementation that could affect other components within the BigFix ecosystem, potentially creating additional attack vectors.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including patching to the latest available versions of IBM BigFix Compliance that address this vulnerability, as well as implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls and input validation mechanisms. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive monitoring of web application logs for suspicious activity and implementing strict content security policies to prevent unauthorized code execution. Security teams should also consider network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. According to the ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving web application exploitation and credential access, highlighting the need for layered defensive measures. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify similar issues in other web applications and ensure that proper input sanitization is implemented across all components of their security infrastructure. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to verify that the patch does not introduce compatibility issues with existing compliance workflows and reporting mechanisms.