CVE-2022-35722 in Jazz for Service Management
Summary
by MITRE • 09/28/2022
IBM Jazz for Service Management 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: 231381.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/29/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-35722 affects IBM Jazz for Service Management, a comprehensive service management platform that enables organizations to manage IT services, incidents, and workflows. This stored cross-site scripting vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of the web-based user interface. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject persistent JavaScript code into the application's web interface, which then executes whenever legitimate users access the affected pages. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 for modifying system processes and T1071 for application layer protocols. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web application's user interface components.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker successfully injects malicious JavaScript code into input fields or parameters that are subsequently stored and displayed within the application's web interface. This stored payload can be embedded through various vectors including user comments, descriptions, or any editable fields that do not properly sanitize user input. When authenticated users browse to pages containing the malicious content, the JavaScript executes within their browser context, potentially compromising their session and credentials. The attack leverages the trust relationship between the user and the application, making it particularly dangerous as users are unlikely to suspect that content they are viewing has been tampered with. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it operates within a trusted session environment, allowing attackers to potentially escalate privileges or extract sensitive information from authenticated user sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can compromise multiple users over time. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or even inject additional malicious code that persists across user sessions. This stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious code remains active until manually removed from the system, providing attackers with extended access windows. Organizations using IBM Jazz for Service Management face significant risks including unauthorized access to sensitive service management data, potential credential compromise, and possible lateral movement within their network infrastructure. The vulnerability's presence in a service management platform particularly concerning as these systems often contain privileged information about IT infrastructure, service requests, and user accounts, making them attractive targets for cybercriminals.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including comprehensive input validation and output encoding across all user-facing interfaces within IBM Jazz for Service Management. The recommended approach involves applying the latest security patches provided by IBM as soon as they become available, while also implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious script injections. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their service management platforms, implement strict access controls, and establish monitoring procedures to detect anomalous user behavior or unauthorized content modifications. Security teams should also consider implementing content security policies to restrict script execution and establish regular user training programs to raise awareness about potential XSS attack vectors. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security measures and demonstrates the critical need for robust input sanitization mechanisms in enterprise service management platforms.