CVE-2019-4665 in Spectrum Scale
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Spectrum Scale 4.2 and 5.0 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: 171247.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/10/2024
IBM Spectrum Scale versions 4.2 and 5.0 contain a cross-site scripting vulnerability that represents a critical security flaw in the web-based management interface. This vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting attacks where malicious scripts can be injected into web applications. The flaw exists in the web user interface components that fail to properly sanitize user input before rendering it within the browser context. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that get executed when other users view affected web pages, potentially compromising the integrity of the entire system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection as it creates a pathway for credential theft and session hijacking within trusted environments. When authenticated users interact with the compromised web interface, their session tokens and potentially sensitive information can be captured by malicious actors. This represents a significant risk to enterprise security infrastructure as IBM Spectrum Scale typically manages critical storage operations and access controls. The vulnerability enables attackers to manipulate the web application's behavior and potentially escalate privileges within the storage management environment.
This vulnerability aligns with several tactics and techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to credential access and privilege escalation. The attack chain begins with initial access through the web interface, followed by credential harvesting and session manipulation. The exploitation process leverages the trust relationship between users and the web application, making detection more challenging as malicious activities appear to originate from legitimate users within the trusted network environment.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches released by IBM, implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious payloads, and conducting thorough security assessments of the web interface components. Network segmentation and monitoring of web traffic can help detect exploitation attempts. Regular security training for administrators and users should emphasize the importance of not clicking on suspicious links or entering credentials in untrusted contexts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in web applications, as proper implementation would prevent the injection of malicious JavaScript code into the user interface.