CVE-2024-56341 in Content Navigator
Summary
by MITRE • 04/02/2025
IBM Content Navigator 3.0.11, 3.0.15, and 3.1.0 is vulnerable to cross-site scripting. This vulnerability allows an authenticated user to embed arbitrary JavaScript code in the Web UI thus altering the intended functionality potentially leading to credentials disclosure within a trusted session.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/13/2025
IBM Content Navigator versions 3.0.11, 3.0.15, and 3.1.0 contain a cross-site scripting vulnerability that represents a significant security risk for organizations relying on this document management platform. The flaw exists within the web user interface where authenticated users can inject malicious JavaScript code through input fields or parameters that are not properly sanitized or validated. This vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The issue is particularly concerning because it requires only authentication to exploit, meaning that any user with legitimate access to the system can potentially leverage this weakness to compromise other users within the same trusted session.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection as it creates a potential pathway for credential theft and session hijacking attacks. When an authenticated user can inject JavaScript code into the web interface, they can manipulate the application's behavior to capture user credentials, session tokens, or other sensitive information transmitted within the trusted session. This type of attack aligns with ATT&CK technique T1539 which focuses on credentials from password storage modules, and T1071.004 which covers application layer protocol: web protocols. The vulnerability essentially allows for the creation of persistent malicious scripts that can execute in the context of other users' browsers, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users share the same application instance.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the IBM Content Navigator web components. The system does not adequately sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in the web interface, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious payloads that can execute in the victim's browser context. This weakness in the application's security architecture enables attackers to perform session manipulation attacks and potentially escalate privileges within the application. Organizations using these vulnerable versions face risks of unauthorized data access, modification of document metadata, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects multiple versions of the software, suggesting a systemic issue in the codebase rather than a isolated incident.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the latest security patches from IBM, implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious script injection attempts, and conducting thorough security reviews of all user inputs. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing additional authentication controls and monitoring for unusual user behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices as recommended in the OWASP Top Ten and ISO 27001 security standards. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications within the organization's infrastructure, as this type of flaw often indicates broader security architecture weaknesses that require comprehensive remediation.