CVE-2017-1325 in iNotes
Summary
by MITRE
IBM iNotes 8.5 and 9.0 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: 125976.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1325 affects IBM iNotes versions 8.5 and 9.0, representing a critical cross-site scripting flaw that compromises the security integrity of the web-based email client interface. This vulnerability resides within the application's input validation mechanisms, where user-supplied data fails to undergo proper sanitization before being rendered in the web user interface. The flaw specifically enables malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code through crafted input fields or parameters, exploiting the application's failure to adequately filter or escape user-controllable data elements.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient output encoding and input validation controls within the iNotes web interface components. When legitimate users interact with the application's web forms, message composition fields, or parameter handling mechanisms, the application fails to properly sanitize the data before incorporating it into dynamic web content. This weakness creates an environment where attacker-controlled JavaScript code can be executed within the context of a victim's browser session, effectively bypassing the application's security boundaries. The vulnerability operates at the application layer, specifically targeting the web UI rendering engine and its data processing pipelines that handle user input for display purposes.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-1325 extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables sophisticated attack vectors that can lead to complete session hijacking and credential theft. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability can manipulate the web interface to capture authentication tokens, cookies, or other sensitive session data that would normally remain protected within the trusted application environment. The attack's effectiveness is amplified by the fact that the malicious code executes within the context of a legitimate user session, making detection significantly more challenging. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can result in unauthorized access to sensitive email data, message manipulation, and potential lateral movement within the organization's network infrastructure.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's data flow processing. Organizations should deploy proper HTML escaping and JavaScript encoding for all user-controllable input elements, ensuring that any data entering the application's rendering pipeline undergoes rigorous sanitization before display. The implementation of Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide additional protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded and executed within the application context. Regular security assessments and code reviews should specifically target data handling routines and input validation controls, with particular attention to web UI components that process user-generated content. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring solutions that can detect and block suspicious script injection attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a significant concern within the ATT&CK framework under the technique of Web Shell, as it enables persistent access through malicious script execution within legitimate user sessions.