CVE-2017-1553 in InfoSphere BigInsights
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Infosphere BigInsights 4.2.0 and 4.2.5 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: 131397.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/21/2021
IBM Infosphere BigInsights version 4.2.0 and 4.2.5 contains a cross-site scripting vulnerability that represents a critical security flaw in the web-based user interface. This 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 or parameters. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is a well-documented weakness in web applications where unvalidated user input is directly reflected back to users without proper sanitization. The attack vector typically involves crafting malicious payloads that exploit the lack of proper input filtering in the web interface, enabling attackers to execute arbitrary javascript code within the context of a victim's browser session.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it creates a potential pathway for credential theft and session hijacking within trusted environments. When authenticated users interact with the vulnerable web interface, the injected javascript code can access and exfiltrate sensitive session cookies, authentication tokens, or other credential information stored in the browser's memory. This creates a significant risk for enterprise environments where BigInsights serves as a data processing platform, as attackers could potentially gain access to administrative privileges or sensitive data processing capabilities. The vulnerability's exploitation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which involves credential access through phishing attacks that leverage web application vulnerabilities.
The security implications of this vulnerability are particularly concerning given the nature of BigInsights as a big data analytics platform that typically handles sensitive enterprise data. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to the system, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of data processing workflows. The attack scenario involves an attacker crafting malicious input that gets processed by the web interface and subsequently executed in the victim's browser, allowing for the theft of session information or redirection to malicious sites. This vulnerability represents a significant risk to organizations relying on the platform for critical data operations, as it undermines the trust model of the web application and creates opportunities for advanced persistent threats. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, output encoding, and web application firewalls to protect against exploitation of this vulnerability, while also planning for proper software updates to address the root cause of the cross-site scripting weakness.