CVE-2008-3550 in Rational ClearQuest
Summary
by MITRE
The CQWeb login page in IBM Rational ClearQuest 7.0.1 allows remote attackers to obtain potentially sensitive information (page source code) via a combination of ?script? and ?/script? sequences in the id field, possibly related to a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/22/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-3550 represents a significant security weakness in IBM Rational ClearQuest 7.0.1's authentication mechanism that exposes sensitive system information through improper input validation. This issue specifically affects the CQWeb login page where the id field parameter fails to properly sanitize user input, creating an avenue for attackers to manipulate the application's behavior and extract confidential page source code. The vulnerability exploits a fundamental flaw in the web application's handling of special character sequences, particularly the combination of script and slash script tags that are commonly used in cross-site scripting attacks.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious payload containing script and /script sequences within the id field parameter of the login page. This manipulation allows the application to render the page source code in a way that exposes internal implementation details, potentially revealing sensitive information about the application's structure, database schema, or other confidential elements that should remain hidden from unauthorized users. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of proper output encoding and input sanitization, which are fundamental security practices that prevent malicious code injection into web applications. This weakness aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with valuable reconnaissance data that can be used to plan more sophisticated attacks against the ClearQuest environment. The exposure of page source code could reveal internal application logic, configuration details, or other sensitive information that would otherwise remain protected. This type of vulnerability undermines the integrity of the authentication system by potentially enabling attackers to bypass certain security controls or gain insights into the application's defensive mechanisms. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations using IBM Rational ClearQuest 7.0.1 as it represents a persistent weakness in the application's security posture that could be exploited by remote attackers without requiring privileged access or specialized tools.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding measures to prevent the injection of malicious script sequences into the id field parameter. The recommended approach involves implementing strict validation of all user-supplied input, particularly parameters that are directly rendered in web pages, and ensuring that all special characters are properly encoded before being processed or displayed. Security patches from IBM should be applied immediately to address this vulnerability, as the exposure of page source code could facilitate more advanced attacks including session hijacking, privilege escalation, or further exploitation of related vulnerabilities within the ClearQuest environment. The remediation process should also include monitoring for suspicious login attempts and implementing web application firewalls to detect and block similar injection attempts that could exploit this or related vulnerabilities in the application stack.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and output encoding in web application security, as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST guidelines for secure coding practices. The issue also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 which covers command and scripting interpreter usage, as attackers could potentially leverage this information disclosure to craft more effective attack vectors against the application. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their ClearQuest installations to identify similar vulnerabilities and ensure that all web applications implement proper security controls to prevent information disclosure and injection attacks.