CVE-2018-1817 in Security Guardium
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security Guardium 10 and 10.5 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: 150021.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/19/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1817 affects IBM Security Guardium versions 10 and 10.5, representing a critical cross-site scripting flaw that undermines the security posture of this database activity monitoring solution. This vulnerability resides within the web user interface component of the security platform, creating an attack vector that enables malicious actors to inject malicious JavaScript code into the application's response. The flaw specifically manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input before rendering it within the web interface, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code in the context of a victim's browser session.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Guardium web application. When legitimate users interact with the system through the web UI, any unvalidated input that gets reflected back to the browser without proper sanitization creates an opportunity for attackers to craft malicious payloads. This XSS vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws where untrusted data is improperly handled in web applications. The vulnerability's classification as a persistent XSS issue means that the malicious script can be stored on the server and executed whenever other users access the affected pages, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where multiple administrators might be affected.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple functionality disruption, as it creates a pathway for credential theft and session hijacking attacks. When an attacker successfully injects JavaScript code into the Guardium web interface, they can potentially steal session cookies, user credentials, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users within the trusted session context. This capability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive database monitoring data, configuration changes, or even complete system compromise. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that Guardium serves as a database activity monitoring solution, meaning successful exploitation could provide attackers with access to critical security information and potentially enable them to evade detection mechanisms.
Organizations utilizing IBM Security Guardium versions 10 and 10.5 should implement immediate mitigations to protect against this vulnerability, including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates. Additional defensive measures should encompass input validation improvements, output encoding mechanisms, and regular security assessments of the web application components. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection, though these should not be considered substitutes for proper patch management. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering through malicious web content, and T1078 which involves valid accounts exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous JavaScript behavior within browser sessions and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing potential credential compromise scenarios. Given the nature of database security tools, the exploitation of this vulnerability could have cascading effects throughout the enterprise security infrastructure, making prompt remediation essential for maintaining overall security posture and compliance requirements.