CVE-2017-1682 in Connections
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Connections 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, and 6.0 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: 134004.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2021
IBM Connections versions 4.0 through 6.0 contain a cross-site scripting vulnerability that represents a critical security flaw in the web 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. The flaw specifically affects the web-based interface where user-generated content is rendered without proper sanitization, creating an environment where attacker-controlled scripts can execute within the context of authenticated user sessions. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security. This issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531: Account Access Removal and T1078: Valid Accounts, as successful exploitation could lead to credential theft and unauthorized access to user accounts within the trusted session context. The security implications extend beyond simple script execution, as the injected JavaScript can leverage the authenticated user's session to perform actions on their behalf, potentially accessing sensitive data, modifying content, or establishing persistent access to the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, particularly within enterprise environments where IBM Connections serves as a collaboration platform for business-critical communications. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting malicious payloads that, when viewed by authenticated users, execute scripts to steal session cookies, capture user credentials, or redirect users to malicious sites. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the trusted session context, meaning that any malicious script execution can access all the privileges and permissions of the authenticated user. This creates a pathway for privilege escalation attacks and data exfiltration, especially in scenarios where users have administrative or sensitive access rights within the IBM Connections environment. The attack surface is broad since the vulnerability affects multiple versions of the software, increasing the potential impact across various organizational deployments. Organizations using these versions face significant risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and potential compromise of their entire collaboration platform infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening measures. The primary solution involves applying the official IBM security patches and updates that address the cross-site scripting flaw through proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization routines that filter and escape user-controllable data before rendering it in web pages, following the principles of secure coding practices. Network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content security policies should be deployed to detect and block malicious script injection attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in their web applications. The implementation of proper security headers including Content-Security-Policy and X-Frame-Options can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. Regular security training for developers on secure coding practices and vulnerability awareness should be mandatory to prevent similar issues in future development cycles. Organizations should also consider implementing automated monitoring solutions that can detect unusual user behavior patterns that may indicate successful exploitation attempts, thereby enabling rapid incident response and mitigation procedures.