CVE-2017-1364 in RELM
Summary
by MITRE
IBM RELM 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0 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: 126857.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/15/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1364 affects IBM RELM versions 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0, representing a critical cross-site scripting flaw that compromises the security integrity of the web-based user interface. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security weakness that enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The flaw specifically resides in the web user interface implementation where input validation mechanisms fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it within the application's response. IBM RELM is a product designed for managing and monitoring enterprise resources, making this vulnerability particularly concerning as it could be exploited to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information within trusted sessions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when authenticated users can inject malicious JavaScript code through input fields or parameters within the web interface. The vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in the context of the victim's browser, potentially enabling session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. When a user interacts with the vulnerable application, the malicious JavaScript code executes within their browser session, which can lead to the disclosure of session cookies, login credentials, or other sensitive data that the user has access to within the trusted application environment. The attack typically requires minimal privileges as the vulnerability is exploitable through standard web interface interactions without requiring elevated access rights.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass potential complete system compromise within the trusted session boundaries. Attackers could leverage this flaw to establish persistent access to enterprise resources, monitor user activities, or escalate privileges within the application's access control framework. The vulnerability's presence in multiple versions of IBM RELM (4.0, 5.0, and 6.0) indicates a widespread exposure across the product line, affecting organizations that rely on these specific versions for enterprise resource management. This cross-site scripting vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, where attackers can use JavaScript payloads to manipulate application behavior and extract sensitive information. The risk is compounded by the fact that the vulnerability operates within a trusted session environment, meaning that successful exploitation could provide attackers with access to data and functionalities that would otherwise be restricted to legitimate users.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding measures to prevent script injection attacks. The recommended approach involves implementing comprehensive sanitization of all user inputs and ensuring that any dynamic content rendered in the web interface is properly escaped to prevent script execution. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection by monitoring and filtering suspicious traffic patterns. Regular security updates and patches from IBM should be applied immediately upon availability, as the vendor would have likely released remediation measures to address this specific cross-site scripting vulnerability. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious user activities and anomalous data access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices and regular security assessments in enterprise web applications, particularly those handling sensitive business data and user credentials within trusted session environments.