CVE-2020-4741 in InfoSphere Information Server
Summary
by MITRE • 10/12/2020
IBM InfoSphere Information Server 11.5 and 11.7 is vulnerable to stored 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: 188197.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2020
IBM InfoSphere Information Server versions 11.5 and 11.7 contain a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that represents a critical security weakness in the web-based user interface. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-079 - Cross-site Scripting and aligns with the ATT&CK framework's technique T1566.001 - Phishing via Service, where attackers can exploit web applications to deliver malicious payloads. The flaw occurs when user-supplied input is not properly sanitized before being rendered in the web interface, allowing attackers to inject persistent JavaScript code that executes in the context of other users' sessions. This stored nature means that once malicious code is injected, it remains active and affects all users who view the affected content, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where multiple users interact with the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple functionality alteration to potentially compromise entire user sessions and sensitive data. When an attacker successfully injects malicious JavaScript, they can execute code within the victim's browser session, potentially stealing authentication cookies, session tokens, or other sensitive information. This creates a persistent threat vector where the malicious code executes automatically whenever affected users access the vulnerable web interface. The vulnerability specifically targets the web UI components where user input is processed, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where InfoSphere Information Server handles sensitive business data and user credentials. The attack surface is broad since any user input field that gets stored and subsequently displayed can serve as an entry point for attackers.
Organizations utilizing IBM InfoSphere Information Server 11.5 and 11.7 should prioritize immediate remediation through the vendor's security patches, as this vulnerability can lead to complete session hijacking and unauthorized access to sensitive enterprise data. The mitigation strategy should include implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent JavaScript execution in user-supplied content. Network segmentation and monitoring of web application traffic can help detect exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other enterprise applications. Additionally, implementing content security policies and disabling unnecessary JavaScript functionality in the web interface can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of securing web applications against XSS attacks, as these flaws can rapidly escalate from simple presentation issues to full system compromise, particularly in environments where sensitive information is processed and stored.