CVE-2014-0853 in Rational Focal Point
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the (1) ForwardController and (2) AttributeEditor scripts in IBM Rational Focal Point 6.4.x and 6.5.x before 6.5.2.3 and 6.6.x before 6.6.1 allow remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/23/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0853 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness affecting IBM Rational Focal Point versions 6.4.x through 6.5.x before 6.5.2.3 and 6.6.x before 6.6.1. This security flaw exists within two primary components of the application: the ForwardController and AttributeEditor scripts. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting attacks, making it a fundamental web application security concern that enables malicious actors to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of affected users. The affected IBM Rational Focal Point platform serves as a collaborative development environment that facilitates requirement management and traceability across software development projects, making it a potentially attractive target for attackers seeking to compromise development workflows.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the ForwardController and AttributeEditor components. These scripts fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content, creating injection points where malicious payloads can be executed. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability may manifest through various user interaction points within the application's interface, potentially including form submissions, parameter handling, or data manipulation functions. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can craft malicious inputs that, when processed by the vulnerable scripts, result in the execution of unauthorized JavaScript code within the browser of authenticated users who interact with the affected system.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-0853 extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with a foothold for more sophisticated attacks within the development environment. An authenticated attacker with legitimate access to the Rational Focal Point system can exploit this vulnerability to steal session cookies, perform actions on behalf of users, access sensitive project data, or even escalate privileges within the application. The attack vector requires only authenticated access, making it particularly dangerous in environments where developers and project managers maintain persistent sessions with elevated privileges. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of software development processes, potentially compromising the security of entire development pipelines and the applications being developed. The exploitation could lead to data exfiltration, unauthorized code modifications, or disruption of development activities.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches and updates that address the specific XSS vulnerabilities in the ForwardController and AttributeEditor components. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script injection attempts, and regular security scanning of the application environment to identify potential exploitation attempts. Input validation should be strengthened throughout the application, with proper encoding of all dynamic content before display, following secure coding practices that align with OWASP Top Ten recommendations. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patches do not introduce regressions in application functionality while maintaining the security posture of the Rational Focal Point environment. Organizations should also review their access controls and privilege management to minimize the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, implementing principle of least privilege practices for all users interacting with the development platform.