CVE-2018-1908 in Robotic Process Automation with Automation Anywhere
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Robotic Process Automation with Automation Anywhere 11 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: 152671.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/01/2023
IBM Robotic Process Automation with Automation Anywhere version 11 contains a cross-site scripting vulnerability that represents a critical security weakness in the web-based user interface. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, where the application fails to properly validate and sanitize user input before rendering it in the web interface. The flaw exists in the processing of user-supplied data that is subsequently displayed without adequate sanitization measures, creating an environment where malicious actors can inject malicious JavaScript code into the application's web pages.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows an attacker to craft specially formatted input that gets executed within the context of a victim's browser session. When the vulnerable application processes this malicious input and renders it in the web UI, the embedded JavaScript code executes with the privileges of the authenticated user. This presents a severe risk because the attacker can leverage the trusted session context to perform actions that would normally be restricted to legitimate users. The vulnerability specifically affects the web-based interface components where user input is directly incorporated into dynamic web content without proper encoding or validation mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it creates opportunities for credential theft and session hijacking. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially capture user credentials, access sensitive data, or perform unauthorized actions within the automated process environment. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it operates within the trusted session context, meaning that any malicious code injected can access the full scope of the user's permissions within the application. This vulnerability can be exploited through various vectors including but not limited to user input fields, URL parameters, or any other data entry points that are processed and rendered in the web interface without proper sanitization.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's web interface. Organizations should deploy proper content security policies that prevent the execution of unauthorized scripts and ensure that all user-supplied data is sanitized before being rendered in web pages. The implementation of web application firewalls and regular security scanning should also be considered as additional protective measures. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for Scripting and T1531 for Account Access Removal, highlighting the potential for both code execution and unauthorized access exploitation. The remediation process should involve comprehensive code review to identify all input handling points and implementation of proper HTML escaping and JavaScript encoding techniques to prevent the execution of malicious payloads. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to ensure that similar vulnerabilities do not exist in other components of the automation platform.