CVE-2018-16953 : Security Advisory and Response

Oracle WebCenter Interaction Portal version 10.3.3 is vulnerable to reflected cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks due to a security flaw in the DisplayResponse() functionality within the portalpages.dll component.

Understanding CVE-2018-16953

This CVE highlights a security vulnerability in Oracle WebCenter Interaction Portal version 10.3.3 that can be exploited through reflected XSS attacks.

What is CVE-2018-16953?

The vulnerability arises from the unsafe reflection of user input from the name parameter in the server response, making it susceptible to XSS attacks.

The Impact of CVE-2018-16953

The security flaw in Oracle WebCenter Interaction Portal version 10.3.3 can allow malicious actors to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of a user's session, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or data theft.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-16953

Oracle WebCenter Interaction Portal version 10.3.3 vulnerability details:

Vulnerability Description

The AjaxView::DisplayResponse() function in portalpages.dll is the source of the reflected XSS vulnerability, as it fails to properly sanitize user input from the name parameter.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Oracle WebCenter Interaction Portal
Version: 10.3.3

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious scripts into the name parameter, which are then executed when the server reflects this input back to the user.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2018-16953 with these measures:

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable the DisplayResponse() function if not essential for portal functionality.
Implement input validation and output encoding to prevent XSS attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch Oracle WebCenter Interaction Portal to address security vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify and mitigate potential risks.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and patches released by Oracle for WebCenter Interaction Portal.