CVE-2008-5324 in Rational ClearQuest
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in CQ Web in IBM Rational ClearQuest 2007 before 2007D and 2008 before 2008B allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2017
The CVE-2008-5324 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in IBM Rational ClearQuest's CQ Web component, specifically affecting versions prior to 2007D and 2008B. This vulnerability manifests as multiple cross-site scripting flaws that enable remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected systems. The vulnerability's severity stems from its ability to bypass input validation mechanisms that should prevent malicious content from being processed and rendered in web interfaces. These XSS vulnerabilities occur due to insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input data, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious payloads that can persist and execute across user sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the failure to properly validate and sanitize data submitted through various input vectors within the CQ Web interface. Attackers can exploit these weaknesses by crafting malicious input that gets processed and displayed without adequate filtering or encoding. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple pathways exist for exploitation, potentially including form fields, URL parameters, or other user-controllable data entry points within the web application framework. This lack of specific vector identification indicates a systemic issue in input handling rather than isolated flaws, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could affect various application components and functionalities.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-5324 extends beyond simple script execution, as successful exploitation can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, and unauthorized access to sensitive data within the ClearQuest environment. Attackers could potentially steal user authentication tokens, access confidential project information, or manipulate database entries through the injected scripts. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to systems or network proximity, making it particularly concerning for organizations with distributed teams or remote access capabilities. The persistence of these vulnerabilities in widely used enterprise software platforms like Rational ClearQuest creates significant risk for organizations relying on these systems for critical business processes and project management.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates for Rational ClearQuest versions 2007D and 2008B. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and input validation rules can provide additional defense in depth. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in software applications. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including initial access through web application exploitation and privilege escalation through session manipulation. Security teams should also implement regular input validation testing and consider implementing content security policies to further reduce the attack surface and prevent successful exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the future.