CVE-2017-7590 in OpenIDM
Summary
by MITRE
OpenIDM through 4.0.0 and 4.5.0 is vulnerable to persistent cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks within the Admin UI, as demonstrated by a crafted Managed Object Name.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/27/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7590 represents a critical persistent cross-site scripting flaw affecting OpenIDM versions 4.0.0 and 4.5.0 within their administrative user interface. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly filter malicious script content when processing user-supplied data. The flaw specifically manifests in the Managed Object Name field, where attackers can inject malicious JavaScript code that persists in the system and executes whenever the affected page is loaded or accessed by authenticated users.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within CWE-79, which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a condition where an application incorporates untrusted data into web pages without proper validation or escaping. The persistent characteristic of this XSS flaw means that malicious scripts are stored server-side and executed against all users who access the affected administrative interface, creating a sustained threat vector. The vulnerability operates through the Admin UI's insufficient sanitization of user inputs, particularly in the context of managed object names that are used to create system entities within the OpenIDM framework.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, steal user credentials, and potentially escalate privileges within the administrative environment. Attackers can craft malicious managed object names that, when processed by the vulnerable system, deliver payloads that execute in the context of authenticated users' browsers. This creates a significant risk for organizations relying on OpenIDM for identity management, as successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive identity data, modification of user accounts, and potential lateral movement within the network infrastructure.
The attack vector for CVE-2017-7590 aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which describes the use of malicious file attachments or crafted inputs to execute code on target systems. The vulnerability's persistence mechanism follows the pattern of T1547.001, where adversaries establish persistent access through the manipulation of system components. Organizations using affected OpenIDM versions face significant risk as this vulnerability can be exploited by attackers with minimal privileges to gain elevated access within the identity management system. The flaw demonstrates a critical weakness in the application's input handling processes, where the system fails to properly escape or validate user-supplied content before storing or rendering it in the web interface.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected OpenIDM versions to address the input validation deficiencies. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures, including HTML escaping and content security policy enforcement, to prevent malicious script injection. Network segmentation and privileged access controls can help limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs. Regular security assessments of administrative interfaces should be conducted to identify similar input validation vulnerabilities. The remediation process must include thorough testing of all user input fields within the administrative portal to ensure that no other pathways exist for persistent XSS exploitation. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious input patterns can provide additional defense layers against exploitation attempts.