CVE-2012-2160 in Rational Change
Summary
by MITRE • 09/29/2022
IBM Rational Change 5.3 is vulnerable to cross-site scripting, caused by improper validation of user-supplied input. A remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability using the SUPP_TEMPLATE_FLAG parameter in a specially-crafted URL to execute script in a victim's Web browser within the security context of the hosting Web site, once the URL is clicked. An attacker could use this vulnerability to steal the victim's cookie-based authentication credentials.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/25/2022
IBM Rational Change version 5.3 contains a critical cross-site scripting vulnerability that stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms. This weakness exists in the handling of the SUPP_TEMPLATE_FLAG parameter within the application's web interface, where user-supplied data is not properly sanitized or escaped before being rendered in web responses. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically representing a stored or reflected XSS flaw depending on how the malicious input is processed and persisted within the application. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious URLs that include malicious script payloads within the SUPP_TEMPLATE_FLAG parameter, which when executed in a victim's browser would operate under the privileges and security context of the legitimate Rational Change application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to perform session hijacking and credential theft operations. When victims click on the maliciously crafted URLs, the injected scripts execute within the victim's browser session, potentially stealing authentication cookies that would allow attackers to impersonate legitimate users. This creates a significant risk for enterprise environments where Rational Change is used for change management and configuration control, as successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to critical system resources and modification of change requests. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no special privileges or authentication from the attacker to deliver the malicious payload, making it a classic example of a server-side input validation failure that enables client-side attack vectors.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with several ATT&CK framework techniques including T1566 for phishing with malicious links and T1531 for use of web shell for remote access. Organizations utilizing IBM Rational Change 5.3 should immediately implement input sanitization measures to escape or validate all user-supplied parameters, particularly those that are reflected back to users in web responses. Mitigation strategies should include implementing proper output encoding mechanisms, deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious URL patterns, and ensuring that all user inputs undergo rigorous validation before being processed or displayed. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities and regularly audit their web applications for similar input validation weaknesses. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization in web applications and serves as a reminder of the potential for seemingly minor validation gaps to result in significant security breaches.