CVE-2008-1287 in Rational ClearQuest
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Rational ClearQuest 7.0.1.1 and 7.0.0.2 generates different error messages depending on whether the username is valid or invalid, which allows remote attackers to enumerate usernames.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/06/2017
IBM Rational ClearQuest version 7.0.1.1 and 7.0.0.2 contains a security flaw that reveals information about valid usernames through inconsistent error messaging during authentication attempts. This vulnerability stems from the application's design where it provides different error responses based on whether a username exists in the system, creating a side-channel information leak that can be exploited by remote attackers. The technical implementation of this weakness aligns with CWE-200, which describes the exposure of sensitive information through error messages, and represents a classic example of how application-level information disclosure can undermine authentication security mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables attackers to perform user enumeration attacks against the ClearQuest system without requiring valid credentials or prior knowledge of the user base. An attacker can systematically test various username combinations and observe the different error responses to determine which usernames are valid within the system. This information can then be used to facilitate subsequent attacks such as brute force attempts, credential stuffing, or social engineering campaigns. The vulnerability exists at the authentication layer and directly affects the confidentiality of user account information, which is a fundamental security principle that aligns with the CIA triad's confidentiality requirements.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1087.001 for account discovery and T1110 for credential access. The flaw essentially provides an automated method for attackers to map out valid user accounts within the ClearQuest environment, which can significantly reduce the attack surface for more sophisticated exploitation techniques. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it does not require any special privileges or access to the system's internal workings - it operates entirely through the public-facing authentication interface.
The root cause of this issue lies in the application's insufficient input validation and error handling mechanisms. When a user attempts to authenticate with ClearQuest, the system should provide identical error responses regardless of whether the username exists, to prevent information leakage. This design flaw violates the principle of least information disclosure and demonstrates a lack of proper security hardening practices in the application's authentication flow. Organizations using these vulnerable versions of ClearQuest should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions, implementing rate limiting on authentication attempts, and configuring the application to provide generic error messages for all authentication failures.
The vulnerability also highlights the importance of security testing during the development lifecycle, particularly in authentication systems where information leakage can have cascading security implications. Proper error handling should be implemented to ensure that all authentication failures return the same generic message to prevent attackers from distinguishing between valid and invalid usernames. Organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their authentication systems to identify similar information disclosure vulnerabilities that could compromise user account security and overall system integrity.