IBM Sterling File Gateway, a popular product that enables organizations to securely integrate their file transfer services, has been identified to have a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in versions 6... through 6.1.2.5 and 6.2.. through 6.2..3. The vulnerability, known as CVE-2023-52292, allows attackers to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into the Web User Interface (UI), potentially leading to unauthorized access and credentials disclosure within a trusted user session.

This post will provide insights into the vulnerability's consequences, code snippet demonstrating the issue, and the original references to exploit details and fixes.

Stored Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability

Stored XSS, also known as persistent XSS, is a type of vulnerability where an attacker is able to inject malicious code directly into a vulnerable web application, which is then stored in a database or other permanent storage. The code is served as part of a web page when a user visits the site and can cause various browser-side impacts, resulting in unwanted actions such as credentials theft, data manipulation, or redirection to other malicious websites.

In the case of CVE-2023-52292, the affected IBM Sterling File Gateway versions allow users to embed arbitrary JavaScript code in the Web UI, altering the intended functionality, thus, potentially leading to credentials disclosure within a trusted session.

Code Snippet

The following code snippet demonstrates an example of how a malicious user can inject JavaScript into the vulnerable application:

<!-- Example malicious input: -->
<script>stealCredentials()</script>

When this input is stored within the application, users who subsequently visit the affected part of the site will be served this script in their browser. The script could execute potentially malicious actions, such as stealing cookies, capturing login credentials, or redirecting the user to another site.

Original References

IBM has officially acknowledged the vulnerability and issued a security bulletin that provides details about the exploit and available fixes:

- IBM Security Bulletin: Multiple vulnerabilities in IBM Java Runtime affect IBM Sterling File Gateway (CVE-2021-3428, CVE-2023-3005, CVE-2023-4421, CVE-2023-52292)

Furthermore, the vulnerability has been disclosed on the National Vulnerability Database, which includes additional information on the potential impact, affected products, and related vulnerabilities:

- NVD - CVE-2023-52292

Exploit Details

In order to exploit the CVE-2023-52292 vulnerability, an attacker needs to have valid credentials and access to the affected application. Using stored XSS attack vectors, the attacker can insert the malicious payload in the Web UI of the application.

Once the payload is stored and served to other users when they visit the affected part of the site, it becomes part of the trusted content, making it difficult to detect and stop. It is particularly dangerous in environments where multiple, privileged users share a trusted session.

Mitigation

IBM has released fixes for the affected versions of IBM Sterling File Gateway. Organizations are advised to apply the relevant fixes as soon as possible to minimize the risk of unauthorized access and credentials disclosure:

For version 6.2.. - 6.2..3: Upgrade to IBM Sterling File Gateway 6.2.1. or later

In conclusion, CVE-2023-52292 is a stored XSS vulnerability affecting several versions of IBM Sterling File Gateway. By exploiting this vulnerability, attackers can inject arbitrary JavaScript code into the Web UI, potentially leading to credentials theft, unauthorized access, and other severe consequences. Organizations using the affected product versions are advised to update their systems to the latest IBM-recommended fix to safeguard their data and maintain a secure file transfer environment.

Timeline

Published on: 01/27/2025 16:15:29 UTC
Last modified on: 03/05/2025 14:08:19 UTC