CVE-2018-1401 in WebSphere Portal
Summary
by MITRE
IBM WebSphere Portal 8.0, 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: 138437.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2021
IBM WebSphere Portal versions 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 contain a critical cross-site scripting vulnerability that stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web user interface. This flaw exists in the portal's handling of user-supplied data that is subsequently rendered without proper sanitization, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject executable JavaScript code into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability operates at the application layer where user input flows through the system and gets processed for display, without adequate protection against script injection attacks. The technical implementation fails to properly encode or escape special characters that could be interpreted as executable code by web browsers, allowing attackers to craft malicious payloads that persist in the application's response.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to manipulate the portal's intended behavior and potentially compromise user sessions. When a victim visits a page containing malicious JavaScript code, the script executes within the context of the victim's browser session, which may include authenticated sessions with elevated privileges. This creates opportunities for attackers to steal session cookies, credentials, or other sensitive information that would otherwise be protected by the portal's authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically targets the trusted session context, meaning that any stolen credentials or information would be perceived as legitimate by the portal's security controls, making detection more challenging. Attackers could leverage this weakness to perform session hijacking, credential theft, or to escalate privileges within the portal environment.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and represents a classic example of insufficient output escaping or encoding. From an adversarial perspective, this weakness maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including T1059.007 for scripting and T1531 for lateral movement through compromised sessions. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that WebSphere Portal serves as a central enterprise portal platform where users frequently access sensitive business information and perform administrative functions. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple versions indicates a systemic issue in the application's input handling architecture that requires comprehensive remediation rather than isolated patches. Organizations utilizing this platform face significant risk of data breaches and unauthorized access to confidential information, particularly in environments where the portal serves as a gateway to enterprise systems and databases.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate implementation of input validation controls that sanitize all user-supplied data before processing, alongside robust output encoding mechanisms that prevent script execution in web responses. Organizations must deploy web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, implement content security policies to restrict script execution, and conduct regular security testing to identify similar vulnerabilities. IBM has released patches for affected versions, and organizations should prioritize upgrading to supported releases that address this vulnerability. Additionally, security awareness training for developers and administrators can help prevent similar issues in custom portal extensions and third-party integrations that may inherit the same security weaknesses.