CVE-2020-4740 in InfoSphere Information Server
Summary
by MITRE • 10/12/2020
IBM InfoSphere Information Server 11.5 and 11.7 is vulnerable to HTML injection. A remote attacker could inject malicious HTML code, which when viewed, would be executed in the victim's Web browser within the security context of the hosting site. IBM X-Force ID: 188150.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2020
IBM InfoSphere Information Server version 11.5 and 11.7 contains a critical html injection vulnerability that allows remote attackers to execute malicious code within the security context of the hosting web application. This vulnerability falls under the category of cross-site scripting attacks and represents a significant security risk for organizations relying on the platform for data integration and information management. The flaw enables attackers to inject malicious html code through input fields or parameters that are not properly sanitized before being rendered in web browsers. When victims access pages containing this malicious content, the injected code executes in their browser session, potentially compromising user data and system integrity. The vulnerability specifically affects the web-based interface of the information server, making it accessible to remote threat actors without requiring local system access or elevated privileges. This weakness directly aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices that should prevent untrusted data from being rendered as executable content. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it leverages the trust relationship between the victim's browser and the hosting site, allowing attackers to perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or executing unauthorized commands on behalf of the authenticated user. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as attackers can potentially escalate privileges, access sensitive information, or manipulate the information server's functionality through the executed malicious code.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web application's user interface components. When user-supplied data is processed and displayed without proper sanitization, the application becomes susceptible to html injection attacks that can be exploited through various vectors including form inputs, url parameters, or api endpoints. The vulnerability demonstrates a failure in implementing proper security controls that should prevent malicious content from being executed within the context of a trusted web application. IBM's security advisory indicates that exploitation requires only remote access to the vulnerable application, making it particularly dangerous as attackers can target systems from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access or complex attack chains. This vulnerability can be classified under the ATT&CK framework as a web application attack technique, specifically involving the execution of malicious code through browser-based injection methods. Organizations using IBM InfoSphere Information Server versions 11.5 and 11.7 face significant risk of data breaches, unauthorized access, and potential system compromise if this vulnerability remains unpatched. The attack surface is broad since the information server typically handles sensitive business data and provides administrative interfaces that could be targeted by threat actors. The exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or disruption of critical business processes that depend on the information server's functionality. Security teams must consider this vulnerability as a high-priority issue requiring immediate attention, particularly in environments where the information server is exposed to untrusted networks or user populations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates for IBM InfoSphere Information Server 11.5 and 11.7. The vulnerability can be addressed through proper input validation, output encoding, and the implementation of content security policies that prevent execution of unauthorized html content. Security measures should include regular monitoring of web application logs for suspicious activity, implementing web application firewalls to detect and block injection attempts, and conducting comprehensive security assessments of the information server's web interfaces. Additionally, organizations should enforce strict access controls and limit exposure of the information server to trusted networks only. The implementation of secure coding practices including parameterized queries, proper input sanitization, and output encoding should be mandatory for all web application components. Regular security training for developers and administrators on secure coding practices and vulnerability identification is essential to prevent similar issues in future deployments. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation to isolate the information server from other critical systems and establish incident response procedures specifically designed to handle html injection attacks. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and conducting regular vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate security weaknesses before they can be exploited by malicious actors. Regular penetration testing and code reviews should be performed to ensure that the information server environment maintains adequate security controls against known attack patterns and emerging threats.