CVE-2022-22427 in InfoSphere Information Server
Summary
by MITRE • 04/28/2022
IBM InfoSphere Information Server 11.7 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: 223720.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/30/2022
IBM InfoSphere Information Server version 11.7 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, which is a common web application security flaw that occurs when an application includes untrusted data in web pages without proper validation or encoding. The flaw specifically enables attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code through the web interface, potentially compromising user sessions and sensitive data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows an attacker to manipulate the web application's user interface by embedding malicious scripts that can execute in the context of a victim's browser session. When a user interacts with the vulnerable web interface, the injected JavaScript code can execute with the privileges of the authenticated user, creating a significant risk for credential theft and session hijacking. The attack vector typically involves crafting malicious input that gets reflected back to the user's browser without proper sanitization, enabling the execution of arbitrary code within the trusted session context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can lead to complete session compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive information. Attackers can leverage this weakness to steal authentication tokens, session cookies, or other credentials that would normally be protected within the trusted application environment. The vulnerability essentially breaks the trust boundary that should exist between the user and the application, allowing malicious actors to perform actions as if they were authenticated users. This poses particular risk in enterprise environments where InfoSphere Information Server handles sensitive business data and requires robust security controls.
Organizations using IBM InfoSphere Information Server 11.7 should immediately implement mitigations including input validation and output encoding to prevent malicious script injection. The recommended approach involves implementing comprehensive sanitization of all user inputs and ensuring proper HTML encoding of dynamic content before rendering in the web interface. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing content security policies and disabling unnecessary JavaScript functionality to reduce the attack surface. IBM has released patches and updates to address this vulnerability, and organizations should prioritize applying these security updates as part of their vulnerability management process. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1059.007 for Scripting and T1531 for Account Access Removal, highlighting the potential for privilege escalation and unauthorized access that this vulnerability enables.