CVE-2017-1444 in Emptoris Sourcing
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Emptoris Sourcing 9.5 - 10.1.3 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: 128110.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2021
IBM Emptoris Sourcing versions 9.5 through 10.1.3 contain a critical cross-site scripting vulnerability that represents a significant security risk for organizations utilizing this procurement platform. This vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications, making it a fundamental weakness in the application's input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The flaw enables malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into the web user interface, potentially compromising the integrity of the entire application ecosystem.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user inputs and inadequate output encoding within the web application's rendering processes. When legitimate users interact with the application's interface, particularly in fields that accept dynamic content or parameters, the application fails to properly validate or escape special characters that could be interpreted as executable JavaScript code. This weakness allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that, when executed in a victim's browser context, can manipulate the application's behavior and potentially access sensitive session data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can lead to full session hijacking and credential disclosure within trusted sessions. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, execute unauthorized actions on behalf of legitimate users, and potentially gain access to sensitive procurement data and business-critical information. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that IBM Emptoris Sourcing is designed for enterprise procurement environments where users may have elevated privileges and access to sensitive financial and supplier data. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1531 which focuses on credential access through session hijacking and manipulation.
Organizations should immediately implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability. The primary remediation involves applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates that address the input validation and output encoding deficiencies. Additionally, implementing proper content security policies through HTTP headers can provide an additional defense-in-depth mechanism to prevent script execution. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and regular security scanning should also be deployed to detect and block potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing robust input validation controls as outlined in industry best practices for secure web application development.