CVE-2021-39028 in Engineering Lifecycle Optimization
Summary
by MITRE • 07/14/2022
IBM Engineering Lifecycle Optimization - Publishing 6.0.6, 6.0.6.1, 7.0, 7.0.1, and 7.0.2 is vulnerable to HTTP header injection, caused by improper validation of input by the HOST headers. This could allow an attacker to conduct various attacks against the vulnerable system, including cross-site scripting, cache poisoning or session hijacking. IBM X-Force ID: 213866.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/25/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-39028 affects IBM Engineering Lifecycle Optimization - Publishing versions 6.0.6, 6.0.6.1, 7.0, 7.0.1, and 7.0.2, representing a critical security flaw in the application's handling of HTTP headers. This issue stems from insufficient validation of HOST header inputs, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate HTTP request headers and potentially compromise the system's security posture. The vulnerability falls under CWE-113, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements in HTTP headers, making it a well-documented weakness in web application security frameworks. The affected IBM product operates within enterprise environments where software development lifecycle management and publishing workflows are critical components of organizational operations.
The technical flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize or validate the HOST header received from client requests, allowing attackers to inject malicious content into HTTP headers. This improper input validation creates opportunities for multiple attack vectors including cross-site scripting attacks where malicious scripts can be injected into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability also enables cache poisoning techniques where attackers can manipulate cached content to serve malicious payloads to unsuspecting users. Additionally, session hijacking becomes possible as attackers can manipulate header values to establish unauthorized access to user sessions or manipulate session identifiers within the application's authentication mechanisms. The HTTP header injection vulnerability creates a fundamental breach in the application's trust model, allowing attackers to manipulate the application's behavior through crafted header values.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate security concerns to potentially compromise the integrity of entire software development processes within organizations using the affected IBM product. Attackers could exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to sensitive development artifacts, manipulate publishing workflows, or disrupt normal operational procedures. The vulnerability's potential for cross-site scripting attacks means that any user interacting with the application could be exposed to malicious code execution, potentially leading to data breaches or system compromise. Cache poisoning attacks could result in widespread distribution of malicious content across the organization's publishing infrastructure, affecting multiple users and systems simultaneously. Session hijacking capabilities could allow attackers to impersonate legitimate users, potentially gaining access to restricted development environments or sensitive project information. This vulnerability particularly impacts organizations that rely heavily on publishing workflows and collaborative development environments where the integrity of content and user sessions is paramount.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and sanitization of HTTP headers, particularly the HOST header, to prevent malicious content injection. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls should be configured to monitor and filter suspicious header content, while application-level defenses should include proper header validation routines that reject malformed or suspicious header values. The implementation of secure coding practices and regular security testing should be enforced to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future versions. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring and logging of HTTP header values to detect potential exploitation attempts. Compliance with industry standards such as the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks should be maintained to ensure comprehensive protection against HTTP header injection attacks and similar vulnerabilities. Regular security updates and patches should be applied promptly to address known vulnerabilities and maintain the overall security posture of the affected systems.