CVE-2023-27864 in Maximo Asset Management
Summary
by MITRE • 04/28/2023
IBM Maximo Asset Management 7.6.1.2 and 7.6.1.3 is vulnerable to HTML injection. A remote attacker could inject malicious HTML code, which when viewed, would be executed in the victim's Web browser within the security context of the hosting site. IBM X-Force ID: 249327.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-27864 affects IBM Maximo Asset Management versions 7.6.1.2 and 7.6.1.3, representing a critical HTML injection flaw that exposes organizations to significant web-based attack vectors. This vulnerability resides within the application's input validation mechanisms, specifically in how it processes user-supplied data that is subsequently rendered in web browser contexts. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary HTML code through input fields or parameters that are not properly sanitized before being displayed to end users. When victims view pages containing this malicious content, the injected HTML executes within the security context of the hosting website, effectively bypassing traditional browser security restrictions and potentially enabling further exploitation.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting (XSS) flaws as weaknesses in web applications that allow attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users. This particular implementation vulnerability demonstrates a failure in output encoding and input sanitization controls, where user-provided data flows directly into HTML rendering contexts without proper validation. The attack surface extends across all user interactions within the Maximo application that involve data display functionality, particularly affecting areas where user-generated content is rendered in web interfaces. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means attackers do not require local system access or network proximity to carry out successful attacks, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where the application serves multiple users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to perform actions with the privileges of authenticated users within the Maximo environment. This includes potential data exfiltration, unauthorized access to sensitive asset management information, modification of critical business data, and establishment of persistent backdoor access points through more sophisticated attack chains. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on Maximo for critical asset management functions, potentially compromising the integrity of their operational data and business processes. Attackers could leverage this weakness to gain insights into organizational asset inventories, maintenance schedules, and operational workflows, which could be valuable for planning more targeted attacks against the broader enterprise infrastructure.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including comprehensive input validation and output encoding controls across all user-facing interfaces within the Maximo application. The recommended approach involves deploying proper HTML escaping mechanisms for all user-supplied content and implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns, while also ensuring that all user inputs are properly validated against expected data formats and lengths. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing robust security monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments of their Maximo installations to identify other potential injection vulnerabilities and ensure proper security configurations are in place. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices and the need for continuous security validation in enterprise applications, particularly those handling sensitive business data and operational information.