CVE-2021-20363 in Cloud Pak for Applications
Summary
by MITRE • 07/13/2021
IBM Cloud Pak for Applications 4.3 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: 195034.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/18/2021
IBM Cloud Pak for Applications version 4.3 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 malicious actors can inject client-side scripts into web applications that are then executed by other users. The flaw specifically affects the web user interface components that process user input without proper sanitization or validation mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that contain JavaScript code which gets embedded into the application's response and subsequently executed in the victim's browser context. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector where unauthorized individuals can manipulate the application's intended behavior and potentially access sensitive information within the trusted session boundaries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the application fails to adequately filter or escape user-supplied input before rendering it within the web interface. This allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that can capture user credentials, hijack sessions, or perform other malicious activities. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as the vulnerability enables attackers to manipulate the application's functionality and potentially access data that should be restricted to authorized users only. The IBM X-Force ID 195034 confirms the severity of this issue and indicates that it represents a significant risk to organizations using this particular version of the Cloud Pak for Applications platform. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, demonstrating how attackers can leverage browser-based scripting capabilities to compromise the application environment.
Organizations utilizing IBM Cloud Pak for Applications 4.3 must implement immediate remediation measures to address this security weakness. The most effective mitigation involves implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms that prevent malicious scripts from being executed within the application context. Security teams should deploy web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious script injection attempts, while also ensuring that all user inputs are properly sanitized before being processed or displayed. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing content security policies that restrict the execution of inline scripts and limit the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities that may exist within the broader application ecosystem, as this vulnerability represents a potential entry point for more sophisticated attacks targeting the organization's overall security posture.