CVE-2022-38705 in CICS TX Standard
Summary
by MITRE • 11/14/2022
IBM CICS TX 11.1 Standard and Advanced could allow a remote attacker to bypass security restrictions, caused by a reverse tabnabbing flaw. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability and redirect a victim to a phishing site. IBM X-Force ID: 234172.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/14/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-38705 affects IBM CICS TX 11.1 Standard and Advanced editions, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to circumvent established access controls through a reverse tabnabbing technique. This vulnerability resides within the web application framework of IBM CICS Transaction Server, which serves as a foundational component for enterprise transaction processing systems. The flaw specifically manifests in how the system handles hyperlinks and document references, creating an avenue for malicious actors to manipulate user navigation and redirect them to unauthorized destinations.
The technical implementation of this reverse tabnabbing vulnerability stems from improper handling of HTML link attributes, particularly the target attribute and window.open() JavaScript functions. When users interact with links generated by the CICS TX system, attackers can craft malicious URLs that exploit the browser's tab management behavior to open phishing pages in the same tab where the legitimate application resides. This technique leverages the fact that when a new tab is opened without explicit security attributes, the original tab's context can be manipulated to redirect users to attacker-controlled domains. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-1021, which classifies improper HTML attribute handling as a weakness that can lead to cross-site scripting and session hijacking attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple phishing attempts, as it compromises the fundamental trust model of enterprise transaction processing systems. Organizations relying on CICS TX for critical business operations face significant risks including unauthorized data access, credential theft, and potential system compromise through social engineering attacks. The remote exploitation capability means attackers do not require physical access to the network or system, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations with distributed workforces or those operating in highly regulated environments. This flaw directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of transaction data processed through the affected systems, potentially leading to financial losses and compliance violations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the latest IBM CICS TX patches that address the reverse tabnabbing vulnerability, implementing strict content security policies that prevent unauthorized domain redirection, and deploying web application firewalls to monitor and block malicious link patterns. Network segmentation and user education programs should complement technical controls to reduce the attack surface. Security teams must also conduct comprehensive assessments of all web applications built on CICS TX to identify similar vulnerabilities, as the underlying architectural flaw may affect other components within the transaction processing environment. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of adhering to secure coding practices and implementing proper input validation, as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's techniques for credential access and defense evasion. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring mechanisms to detect unauthorized redirection attempts and establish incident response procedures specifically tailored to address reverse tabnabbing attacks in enterprise transaction processing systems.