CVE-2026-113697 in Helix Operations Management
Summary
by MITRE • 10/29/2026
Reflected cross-site scripting in the agent query feature of BMC Helix Operations Management 25.4.00 allows authenticated attackers to execute script in another user's browser after that user opens a crafted link.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/29/2026
The vulnerability identified as reflected cross-site scripting within the agent query functionality of BMC Helix Operations Management version 25.4.00 represents a significant security flaw affecting web-based application interfaces. This specific class of injection attack occurs when an application includes untrusted data in its immediate response without performing adequate validation or encoding, allowing malicious scripts to be executed by the victim's browser. In this particular instance, the agent query feature serves as the entry point for exploitation. The attacker crafts a specially constructed URL containing embedded JavaScript payloads within the query parameters. When an authenticated user clicks on this link or is redirected to it through social engineering tactics such as phishing emails or deceptive websites, their web browser processes the malicious script in the context of the BMC Helix Operations Management application domain.
From a technical perspective, the root cause lies in insufficient input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms within the server-side processing logic for agent queries. The application accepts user-supplied data from HTTP request parameters and reflects it back into the HTML response without properly escaping special characters that have meaning in JavaScript or HTML contexts. This failure allows the injected script to bypass standard browser security policies, such as the same-origin policy, because the malicious code is served directly by the trusted BMC Helix server itself. Consequently, the victim's browser treats the payload as legitimate content from the application rather than external hostile data, granting the attacker full access to the session context of the authenticated user.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its reliance on authentication and social engineering for initial exploitation. Since the attack requires the target to be an authenticated user, it targets individuals with varying levels of privilege within the BMC Helix Operations Management environment. Once executed, the malicious script can perform a wide range of destructive actions including stealing session cookies or authentication tokens, which allows the attacker to hijack the victim's active sessions and impersonate them indefinitely until token expiration. Furthermore, the script can manipulate the Document Object Model to alter page content, redirect users to phishing sites designed to harvest credentials, or exfiltrate sensitive operational data visible on the dashboard such as infrastructure status, alert details, or configuration settings. This effectively compromises the confidentiality and integrity of the IT operations management platform.
This vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration identifier CWE-79, which classifies improper neutralization of input during web page generation known as cross-site scripting. In terms of offensive security frameworks, this attack vector corresponds to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1059, specifically command and script interpretation via browser-based execution, often utilized in the context of credential harvesting or session hijacking under tactics like Initial Access and Credential Access. The reflected nature of the XSS means that persistent storage is not required on the server side, making detection through static analysis more challenging as the malicious payload exists only transiently within HTTP requests and responses.
Mitigation strategies must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. BMC has released patches for version 25.4.00 to correct the input validation logic in the agent query module; administrators should apply these updates immediately to close the vulnerability window. In addition to patching, organizations should implement strict Content Security Policy headers that restrict script execution sources, thereby preventing unauthorized scripts from running even if injection occurs. Input validation must be enforced on both client and server sides using allow-list approaches rather than block-lists to ensure only expected character sets are processed. Furthermore, enabling HttpOnly flags on session cookies can mitigate the risk of cookie theft by preventing JavaScript access to sensitive authentication tokens. Regular security assessments including dynamic application security testing should be conducted to identify similar reflection points across other modules within the BMC Helix Operations Management suite.