CVE-2018-1815 in Security Access Manager Appliance
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security Access Manager Appliance 9.0.1.0, 9.0.2.0, 9.0.3.0, 9.0.4.0, and 9.0.5.0 for Enterprise Single-Sign On 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: 150019.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/19/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1815 affects IBM Security Access Manager Appliance versions 9.0.1.0 through 9.0.5.0, specifically targeting the Enterprise Single-Sign On functionality. This cross-site scripting vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of the web-based user interface and potentially compromises the security of authenticated sessions. The vulnerability exists within the appliance's web user interface implementation, where input validation mechanisms fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in the browser context. This flaw enables malicious actors to inject malicious JavaScript code through carefully crafted input fields or parameters that are then executed within the context of legitimate user sessions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper validation or sanitization. The vulnerability specifically impacts the appliance's ability to properly filter and escape user input, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that can execute in the browser of authenticated users. When a victim with a valid session visits a page containing the malicious payload, the injected JavaScript code executes within the context of their trusted session, potentially enabling attackers to steal session cookies, credentials, or perform actions on behalf of the authenticated user. The attack vector typically involves manipulating form inputs, URL parameters, or other user-controllable data fields that are processed by the appliance's web interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it directly threatens the security model of the Enterprise Single-Sign On system. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to hijack user sessions, access sensitive information, and potentially escalate privileges within the security infrastructure. The vulnerability's presence in the web UI means that any user with access to the appliance's interface could become a potential vector for credential theft or session manipulation. This risk is particularly concerning given that the appliance serves as a critical component in enterprise security infrastructure, where compromised credentials could lead to unauthorized access to protected systems and data. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers credential harvesting through social engineering and malicious web content, as the attack leverages the trust relationship between the user and the appliance.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates released by IBM to address this vulnerability. Network segmentation and monitoring of web traffic can help detect potential exploitation attempts, while implementing content security policies and input validation controls can provide additional defense layers. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other potentially affected components within their IBM Security Access Manager deployments. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patches in non-production environments before deployment to ensure compatibility with existing configurations and workflows. Additionally, organizations should review their web application security practices and implement proper input sanitization techniques to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other components of their security infrastructure, as this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of robust web application security controls in enterprise security solutions.