CVE-2017-1443 in Emptoris Services Procurement
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Emptoris Services Procurement 10.0.0.5 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: 128109.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1443 affects IBM Emptoris Services Procurement version 10.0.0.5, representing a critical cross-site scripting flaw that compromises the application's web interface security. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically manifesting as a client-side code injection attack vector that enables malicious actors to execute unauthorized JavaScript within the victim's browser context. The flaw exists due to insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web application's user interface components, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts through user-controllable data fields.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited to hijack user sessions and extract sensitive information. When a victim interacts with the compromised application, the injected JavaScript code executes within the context of their authenticated session, potentially enabling attackers to access session cookies, form data, and other credential information. This session hijacking capability aligns with techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1566 category of "Credential Access" and specifically addresses the T1566.001 sub-technique related to credential dumping through browser-based attacks. The vulnerability essentially allows attackers to establish a foothold within the procurement environment that could lead to unauthorized access to procurement data, vendor information, and financial transaction details.
The exploitation of this XSS vulnerability requires minimal privileges and can be executed through various attack vectors including phishing campaigns, compromised user accounts, or direct web interface manipulation. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that persist in the application's data storage or are executed during user interactions with vulnerable pages. The attack surface includes any web form, input field, or dynamic content rendering component within the procurement application where user-supplied data is displayed without proper sanitization. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and authentication mechanisms by enabling unauthorized data access and manipulation, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of procurement processes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-1443 should prioritize immediate patch application from IBM as the primary remediation measure, while also implementing additional defensive controls such as content security policies, input validation frameworks, and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should deploy web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious script injection attempts, while also conducting comprehensive security assessments of the procurement application's input handling processes. The implementation of proper input sanitization techniques, including HTML escaping and parameterized queries, can prevent the execution of malicious scripts. Security teams should also establish monitoring procedures to detect anomalous user behavior patterns that might indicate session hijacking attempts, and implement multi-factor authentication to reduce the impact of credential compromise. Regular security testing and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other components of the procurement ecosystem, ensuring comprehensive protection against similar cross-site scripting vulnerabilities.