CVE-2018-1657 in Publishing Engine
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Publishing Engine 2.1.2, 6.0.5, and 6.0.6 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: 144883.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/25/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1657 affects IBM Publishing Engine versions 2.1.2, 6.0.5, and 6.0.6, representing a critical cross-site scripting flaw that compromises the security integrity of web-based interfaces. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security weakness that enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The affected IBM Publishing Engine products expose a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate the web user interface through crafted input that gets executed in the context of authenticated sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the publishing engine's web interface components. Attackers can exploit this weakness by injecting malicious JavaScript code through user-controllable parameters or input fields that are not properly sanitized before being rendered back to users. When legitimate users interact with the affected web application, their browsers execute the injected scripts, which can operate within the security context of the authenticated session. This execution context is particularly dangerous as it allows the malicious code to access session cookies, form data, and other sensitive information that the user's browser maintains for the application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, creating potential pathways for credential theft and session hijacking attacks. When JavaScript code executes within a trusted session context, it can access and exfiltrate authentication tokens, user credentials, and other sensitive data that the application handles. This risk is exacerbated by the fact that the vulnerability affects multiple versions of the IBM Publishing Engine, indicating a widespread exposure across different product releases. The potential for data exfiltration and unauthorized access to publishing workflows makes this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations that rely on the platform for content management and publishing operations.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including input validation controls, output encoding mechanisms, and web application firewall rules to prevent script injection attempts. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all user inputs before processing and ensuring that all dynamic content is properly escaped when rendered in web interfaces. Additionally, implementing content security policies and session management improvements can help reduce the attack surface and limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. According to the ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for script injection techniques and T1531 for credential access, highlighting the multi-faceted nature of the threat landscape this vulnerability exposes. The IBM X-Force ID 144883 further emphasizes the severity classification and provides additional context for security professionals in assessing and prioritizing remediation efforts.