CVE-2017-1425 in Business Process Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Business Process Manager 8.0.1.1 and 8.5.7 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: 127478.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/14/2021
This cross-site scripting vulnerability in IBM Business Process Manager versions 8.0.1.1 and 8.5.7 represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of the web-based user interface. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's web components, allowing malicious actors to inject malicious JavaScript code through user-controllable input fields. This weakness falls under CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in software applications. The flaw enables attackers to manipulate the web interface in ways that can compromise user sessions and potentially access sensitive information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it creates opportunities for session hijacking and credential theft within trusted user sessions. When authenticated users interact with the compromised interface, their browser sessions become vulnerable to manipulation by attackers who can execute JavaScript code in the context of the victim's session. This creates a direct pathway for unauthorized access to business process management functionalities and associated data. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the trusted environment of the business process manager, making it difficult for users to detect malicious activity. The IBM X-Force ID 127478 confirms the severity of this issue and its potential for exploitation in real-world scenarios.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability typically involves crafting malicious input that bypasses the application's input sanitization measures and gets executed in the victim's browser context. Attackers can leverage this to steal session cookies, modify interface elements, redirect users to malicious sites, or even perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. This type of attack aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script injection and T1531 for credential access through session manipulation. The vulnerability affects the web UI components that handle user input, particularly those related to process definitions, task assignments, and configuration parameters where users might enter data that gets rendered back to the browser without proper sanitization.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, starting with immediate patching of affected IBM Business Process Manager versions. The remediation process should include validating all user inputs through strict sanitization and encoding mechanisms, implementing proper content security policies, and conducting regular security testing of web interfaces. Network segmentation and monitoring for suspicious JavaScript execution patterns can provide additional detection capabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious payloads and establish robust incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and following secure coding practices that prevent XSS attacks through proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms.