CVE-2009-4052 in Rational Application Developer for WebSphere
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the JSF Widget Library Runtime in IBM Rational Application Developer for WebSphere Software before 7.0.0.10 and Rational Software Architect before 7.0.0.10 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors involving (1) the JSF Tree Control and (2) the JavaScript Resource Servlet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/20/2017
The vulnerability CVE-2009-4052 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness in IBM Rational Application Developer for WebSphere Software and Rational Software Architect versions prior to 7.0.0.10. This flaw exists within the JSF Widget Library Runtime component, specifically affecting two distinct attack vectors that enable remote adversaries to execute malicious scripts in the context of affected applications. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the JSF Tree Control and JavaScript Resource Servlet components, creating exploitable entry points for malicious web content injection.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of user-supplied input within the JSF widget framework. When the JSF Tree Control processes user data, it fails to adequately sanitize or encode special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. Similarly, the JavaScript Resource Servlet does not properly validate or escape input parameters before incorporating them into dynamically generated JavaScript responses. These weaknesses fall under CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities, and represent a classic case of insecure data handling in web application frameworks. The attack vectors leverage the inherent trust relationship between the web application and its users, allowing malicious actors to inject script code that executes in the victim's browser context.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-4052 extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling attackers to perform session hijacking, defacement of web applications, data theft, and privilege escalation within the affected environments. Organizations using vulnerable versions of IBM Rational Application Developer and Rational Software Architect face significant risks as attackers can exploit these vulnerabilities to manipulate user sessions, steal sensitive information, or compromise the integrity of development environments. The vulnerability affects the entire development lifecycle management process, as these tools are integral to enterprise software development and often contain sensitive configuration data, source code, and project information that could be accessed through successful exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-4052 should prioritize immediate patching of affected IBM Rational products to version 7.0.0.10 or later, which includes the necessary input validation and output encoding fixes. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures such as input sanitization at multiple layers, strict output encoding for all dynamic content, and regular security testing of web applications built using these tools. The remediation efforts should align with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for JavaScript injection and T1566 for credential access through web application attacks. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers, while comprehensive security awareness training for developers helps prevent introduction of similar vulnerabilities in custom applications built on these platforms.