CVE-2017-1530 in Business Process Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Business Process Manager 7.5, 8.0, and 8.5 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: 130409.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/14/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1530 affects IBM Business Process Manager versions 7.5, 8.0, and 8.5, representing a critical cross-site scripting flaw that compromises the security of web-based interfaces. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically manifesting as a client-side code injection attack that exploits the application's failure to properly validate and sanitize user input. The affected system allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code through web UI elements, fundamentally undermining the integrity of the application's user interface and potentially compromising user sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the IBM Business Process Manager web components. When users interact with the web interface, the application fails to adequately sanitize data entered into form fields, text areas, or other user input mechanisms. This weakness creates an attack vector where an attacker can craft malicious payloads containing JavaScript code that gets executed within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability particularly impacts authenticated sessions, as demonstrated by the potential for credential disclosure during trusted interactions, making it a significant concern for enterprise environments where sensitive business process data is handled.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-1530 extends beyond simple data corruption or display manipulation, as it enables sophisticated attack scenarios that can lead to complete session hijacking and privilege escalation. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, credentials, or other sensitive information from users who are authenticated to the business process manager system. This poses a direct threat to the confidentiality and integrity of business processes, potentially allowing unauthorized access to critical enterprise workflows, process definitions, and operational data. The vulnerability's exploitation can result in unauthorized process modifications, data exfiltration, and disruption of business continuity operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should encompass multiple layers of defense including immediate patch application from IBM, which addresses the root cause by implementing proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should also implement robust web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script payloads, alongside comprehensive input validation controls that enforce strict sanitization of all user-provided data. Additionally, security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses in the broader application ecosystem, while implementing security awareness training for developers to prevent similar issues in custom application development. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for Scripting, emphasizing the need for input validation controls and application hardening measures to prevent unauthorized code execution within trusted environments.