CVE-2008-5325 in Rational ClearQuest
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in CQ Web in IBM Rational ClearQuest 7.0.0 before 7.0.0.4 and 7.0.1 before 7.0.1.3 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-2008-5325 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting IBM Rational ClearQuest 7.0.0 versions prior to 7.0.0.4 and 7.0.1 versions prior to 7.0.1.3. This vulnerability resides within the CQ Web component of the ClearQuest application, which serves as the web-based interface for managing requirements, defects, and other project artifacts. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious web script or HTML code into the application's user interface, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize user input, specifically in the context of web application security where improper validation and sanitization of input data leads to XSS exploitation.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the CQ Web interface components. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that are then executed in the context of other users' browsers who visit affected pages. These unspecified vectors suggest that multiple input points within the web interface could be compromised, including form fields, URL parameters, or any other user-controllable data entry points within the application's web layer. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script injection, as it can potentially enable session hijacking, credential theft, and the execution of arbitrary commands on behalf of authenticated users. This type of vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which focuses on the use of malicious scripts to compromise user sessions and gain unauthorized access to systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-5325 is significant for organizations using IBM Rational ClearQuest in their software development lifecycle processes. The vulnerability exposes sensitive project data and user credentials to potential attackers who can leverage the XSS flaw to gain unauthorized access to defect tracking systems, requirements management databases, and other critical project artifacts. Organizations relying on ClearQuest for managing software quality assurance processes face risks of data exposure, integrity compromise, and potential disruption to development workflows. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or insider knowledge to carry out successful attacks. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where ClearQuest is used for managing sensitive development information and where multiple users interact with the system through web interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-5325 should prioritize immediate patching of affected IBM Rational ClearQuest installations to versions 7.0.0.4 and 7.0.1.3 or later, which contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including input validation and output encoding controls within the web application layer, regular security scanning of web interfaces, and user education regarding the risks of clicking on suspicious links or visiting untrusted websites. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of the ClearQuest web interface to unauthorized users. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts through unusual traffic patterns or suspicious user activities. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date software patches and implementing comprehensive security controls that address both application-level and network-level threats. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional layers of protection against similar XSS vulnerabilities in their software development environments.