CVE-2012-2164 in Rational ClearQuest
Summary
by MITRE
The Web client in IBM Rational ClearQuest 7.1.x before 7.1.2.7 and 8.x before 8.0.0.3 allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended access restrictions, and use the Site Administration menu to modify system settings, via a parameter-tampering attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2164 affects IBM Rational ClearQuest web client implementations across versions 7.1.x prior to 7.1.2.7 and 8.x prior to 8.0.0.3. This represents a critical access control flaw that undermines the security model of the application by permitting authenticated users to escalate their privileges through parameter tampering techniques. The vulnerability specifically targets the Site Administration menu functionality, which should typically be restricted to authorized administrators only, but can be accessed by malicious authenticated users who manipulate request parameters.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on parameter tampering attacks that manipulate the web application's input validation mechanisms. When authenticated users submit requests to the ClearQuest web interface, they can modify parameters that control access to administrative functions. This type of attack falls under the CWE-284 access control weakness category, specifically targeting improper access control mechanisms. The flaw demonstrates a failure in the application's authorization checks, where the system does not properly validate whether the authenticated user possesses the necessary privileges to access sensitive administrative functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables authenticated attackers to gain unauthorized access to system configuration settings that should remain restricted to administrators. This privilege escalation capability allows malicious users to modify critical system parameters, potentially leading to data corruption, unauthorized access to sensitive information, or complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects organizations using Rational ClearQuest for configuration management and issue tracking, where unauthorized modifications could disrupt business processes and compromise the integrity of the configuration management system.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches for IBM Rational ClearQuest versions 7.1.2.7 and 8.0.0.3, which address the parameter tampering vulnerability through enhanced input validation and access control checks. Network segmentation and monitoring of web application traffic can help detect suspicious parameter modifications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the T1078 legitimate credentials and T1548 legitimate credentials sub-techniques. Additionally, implementing proper input validation controls, regular security testing, and access control audits can prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future. The affected systems should undergo comprehensive security assessments to identify potential additional access control weaknesses that may be exploited in similar manners.