CVE-2012-2205 in Rational ClearQuest
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability 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 inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a workspace query.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2205 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting IBM Rational ClearQuest versions 7.1.x prior to 7.1.2.7 and 8.x prior to 8.0.0.3. This vulnerability resides within the application's handling of workspace query parameters, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of authenticated user sessions. The flaw specifically manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input submitted through workspace query interfaces, allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads that persist and execute in the browsers of other users who access the affected system.
This security weakness fundamentally stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the ClearQuest application's web interface. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which categorizes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically targeting the failure to properly escape or encode user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web content. The attack vector requires only authenticated access to the system, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by insiders or compromised accounts with legitimate privileges. The malicious scripts injected through workspace queries can leverage the authenticated user's session to perform actions with the privileges of that user, potentially leading to data exfiltration, privilege escalation, or further exploitation of the underlying system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent footholds within the Rational ClearQuest environment. When authenticated users view workspace queries containing malicious payloads, the injected scripts execute in their browsers, potentially capturing session cookies, redirecting to malicious sites, or performing unauthorized actions within the application. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire system, as it can be used to harvest sensitive data from the application's database, modify records, or manipulate workflow processes that are critical to software development lifecycle management. This type of vulnerability directly violates the principles of secure web application development and can significantly compromise the trust model of the Rational ClearQuest platform, which is designed to manage complex software development processes and maintain data integrity.
Organizations utilizing affected versions of IBM Rational ClearQuest should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates, specifically the fixes released for versions 7.1.2.7 and 8.0.0.3. System administrators should also consider implementing additional protective measures such as input validation at the application level, output encoding for all user-supplied data, and monitoring of workspace query usage patterns for suspicious activity. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers the use of malicious content delivery methods, and represents a significant risk to organizations relying on Rational ClearQuest for critical development process management. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments of their Rational ClearQuest deployments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in related systems and ensure proper security controls are in place to prevent unauthorized code execution within their development environments.