CVE-2012-5757 in Rational ClearQuest
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Web Client in IBM Rational ClearQuest 7.1.x before 7.1.2.10 and 8.x before 8.0.0.6 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/01/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5757 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM Rational ClearQuest's Web Client component. This issue affects versions 7.1.x prior to 7.1.2.10 and 8.x prior to 8.0.0.6, creating a significant security risk for organizations utilizing these software versions. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web interface, allowing malicious actors to exploit the system through carefully crafted URLs that contain malicious script code.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The flaw occurs when the Web Client fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input parameters that are subsequently rendered in web pages without adequate encoding or filtering. Attackers can leverage this weakness by constructing malicious URLs that include JavaScript code or HTML content, which then gets executed in the context of other users' browsers when they access the affected pages. This type of attack operates through the principle of stored or reflected XSS depending on how the malicious content is processed and stored within the application's data handling mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code within users' browser sessions. This can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, redirection to malicious sites, and potentially full compromise of user accounts within the ClearQuest environment. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no special privileges or authentication to exploit, making it accessible to any remote attacker who can influence the URL parameters used by the application. Organizations relying on ClearQuest for configuration management, issue tracking, and collaboration may experience unauthorized access to sensitive project data and system resources.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate application of the vendor-provided security patches released for versions 7.1.2.10 and 8.0.0.6. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script patterns in URL parameters, enhanced input validation at multiple layers of the application architecture, and regular security scanning of web applications. The remediation approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which focuses on the initial access phase through social engineering and malicious web content delivery. Security teams should also consider implementing content security policies and monitoring for anomalous URL patterns that may indicate attempted exploitation of this vulnerability.