CVE-2017-1554 in InfoSphere BigInsights
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Infosphere BigInsights 4.2.0 and 4.2.5 could allow a remote attacker to hijack the clicking action of the victim. By persuading a victim to visit a malicious Web site, a remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability to hijack the victim's click actions and possibly launch further attacks against the victim. IBM X-Force ID: 131398.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/21/2021
This vulnerability in IBM Infosphere BigInsights version 4.2.0 and 4.2.5 represents a sophisticated cross-site scripting attack vector that enables remote code execution through user interaction. The flaw specifically targets the web interface component of the big data platform, allowing attackers to manipulate click events on victim machines. The vulnerability operates by exploiting weaknesses in how the application handles user input and processes web requests, creating an environment where malicious JavaScript code can be injected and executed within the context of the victim's browser session. This type of attack falls under the category of user interface redressing or clickjacking attacks that have been documented in various security frameworks including the CWE database under category 611. The attack requires social engineering to convince victims to visit malicious websites, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may not be adequately trained to recognize such threats.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of web application interfaces to intercept and redirect user interactions. When a victim visits a compromised website, the malicious code embedded in the page can capture click events and redirect them to unintended targets. This capability allows attackers to perform actions on behalf of the victim without their knowledge or consent, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, system compromise, or further exploitation of the underlying infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates a critical weakness in the application's security model, particularly regarding how it validates and sanitizes user-provided content before rendering it in web interfaces. The attack vector specifically targets the web-based management console and user interface components that are accessible through standard web browsers, making it accessible to attackers with minimal privileges required to execute the initial payload. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in big data environments where sensitive corporate information is processed and stored, as it could potentially lead to data exfiltration or system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple session hijacking to encompass potential complete system compromise and data breaches. Organizations utilizing IBM Infosphere BigInsights in production environments face significant risk from this vulnerability, as it could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to large volumes of enterprise data processed through the platform. The attack's ability to chain with other exploits makes it particularly dangerous, as initial access could lead to privilege escalation and further network infiltration. Security professionals must consider the implications of this vulnerability in the context of enterprise security frameworks, as it could potentially be leveraged to bypass traditional security controls and access sensitive data repositories. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical expertise from attackers, making it a significant concern for organizations that do not maintain up-to-date security patches and monitoring systems. This type of vulnerability is classified under the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1071 for application layer protocol, indicating its potential for lateral movement and command execution within compromised environments.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including patching affected systems to the latest IBM Infosphere BigInsights releases that address this vulnerability, implementing strict web application firewall rules to prevent malicious code injection, and establishing robust monitoring for suspicious web traffic patterns. Network segmentation and access controls should be reviewed to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Security awareness training for users should emphasize the importance of avoiding untrusted websites and suspicious links that could trigger such attacks. The vulnerability also highlights the need for comprehensive input validation and output encoding practices in web application development, particularly for enterprise platforms that handle sensitive data. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other enterprise applications and infrastructure components. Organizations should also consider implementing additional layers of security such as content security policies and browser-based security controls to prevent the execution of malicious scripts that could exploit this and similar vulnerabilities.