CVE-2018-1361 in WebSphere Portal
Summary
by MITRE
IBM WebSphere Portal 8.5 and 9.0 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: 137158.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/29/2021
IBM WebSphere Portal versions 8.5 and 9.0 contain a cross-site scripting vulnerability that represents a critical security flaw in the web application framework. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user input before rendering it in the web interface. The flaw exists in the portal's handling of user-provided data within the web user interface, creating an environment where malicious actors can inject malicious JavaScript code into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability specifically affects the portal's content rendering mechanisms, allowing attackers to manipulate the application's behavior through crafted input fields or parameters that are not adequately filtered.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to hijack user sessions and potentially access sensitive credentials within trusted sessions. When a victim visits a page containing the malicious script, the JavaScript code executes in the context of their authenticated session, providing attackers with the ability to steal session cookies, capture login credentials, or perform actions on behalf of the authenticated user. This type of attack aligns with ATT&CK technique T1539 - Steal or Forge Authentication Tokens, where adversaries exploit web application vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to user sessions. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the trusted context of the WebSphere Portal, making it difficult for standard security measures to detect the malicious activity.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires attackers to identify input points within the WebSphere Portal interface where user data is directly rendered without proper sanitization. Attackers can inject malicious JavaScript through various vectors including form fields, URL parameters, or content management interfaces that do not properly validate or escape user-supplied content. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that IBM WebSphere Portal serves as a central enterprise portal platform, meaning a successful exploitation could affect multiple users within an organization's web infrastructure. This makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors targeting enterprise environments where WebSphere Portal is commonly deployed.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability including immediate patching of affected IBM WebSphere Portal versions, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious script injections. The mitigation strategy should include regular security assessments of web applications, proper implementation of content security policies, and user education regarding the risks of visiting untrusted websites. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing session management best practices including secure cookie attributes and session timeout mechanisms to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices as outlined in OWASP Top 10 security guidelines, particularly focusing on preventing XSS attacks through proper sanitization of user input.