CVE-2017-1327 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: 126062.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/07/2021
IBM iNotes version 8.5 and 9.0 contains a critical cross-site scripting vulnerability that enables malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into the web interface. This flaw resides in the application's handling of user input within the web user interface, where insufficient validation and sanitization of input parameters allows attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of authenticated sessions. The vulnerability specifically affects the web-based email and collaboration features of IBM iNotes, which are accessed through standard web browsers and utilize the IBM Domino server infrastructure for processing. When exploited, this XSS vulnerability can be leveraged to steal session cookies, modify user interface elements, and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive email data and user credentials. The attack vector typically involves crafting malicious input that gets rendered back to the user's browser without proper escaping or encoding, allowing the injected JavaScript to execute in the victim's browser context. This vulnerability represents a significant security risk as it can be exploited by attackers who have gained access to a user's session through other means or by tricking users into clicking malicious links. The impact extends beyond simple data theft, as attackers can manipulate the application's behavior to perform actions on behalf of authenticated users, including reading, modifying, or deleting sensitive email content. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-site Scripting flaws in web applications. The attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, where adversaries leverage browser-based scripting to execute malicious code. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be achieved through social engineering tactics, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently interact with web-based collaboration tools. IBM's security advisory indicates that this vulnerability can be exploited to compromise trusted sessions, potentially allowing attackers to establish persistent access to corporate email systems and access sensitive information. The affected versions of IBM iNotes are particularly vulnerable because they lack proper input validation mechanisms that would normally prevent malicious scripts from being executed within the application's web interface. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to prevent exploitation, while also implementing additional security controls such as content security policies and web application firewalls to provide defense-in-depth against similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in web applications, as proper sanitization of user-provided data can prevent most XSS attacks from succeeding.