CVE-2014-0950 in Rational ClearQuest
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple XML external entity (XXE) vulnerabilities in (1) CQWeb / CM Server, (2) ClearQuest Native client, (3) ClearQuest Eclipse client, and (4) ClearQuest Eclipse Designer components in IBM Rational ClearQuest 7.1.1 through 7.1.1.9, 7.1.2 through 7.1.2.13, 8.0.0 through 8.0.0.10, and 8.0.1 through 8.0.1.3 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service or access other servers via crafted XML data. IBM X-Force ID: 92623.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/03/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2014-0950 represents a critical XML external entity (XXE) flaw affecting multiple components within IBM Rational ClearQuest software versions spanning 7.1.1 through 8.0.1.3. This vulnerability manifests across four distinct client and server components including CQWeb/CM Server, ClearQuest Native client, ClearQuest Eclipse client, and ClearQuest Eclipse Designer, creating a widespread attack surface that impacts organizations relying on IBM's requirements management and issue tracking platform. The XXE vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation when processing XML data, allowing malicious actors to exploit the software's XML parser behavior and manipulate how external entities are resolved during document processing.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the affected ClearQuest components receive crafted XML input that contains external entity declarations referencing remote servers or local files. Attackers can leverage this flaw to perform server-side request forgery attacks, where the vulnerable system attempts to fetch resources from specified URLs, potentially enabling information disclosure or denial of service conditions. The vulnerability specifically affects the XML parsing mechanisms within IBM Rational ClearQuest, where external entities are not properly restricted or sanitized, allowing attackers to construct malicious XML documents that trigger unintended system behavior. This flaw aligns with CWE-611, which categorizes improper restriction of XML external entity reference as a critical weakness in software security.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-0950 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as it can enable attackers to access sensitive server resources through the XML processing pipeline. Remote attackers can potentially leverage this vulnerability to read local files on the server, access internal network resources, or perform reconnaissance activities that could lead to further compromise of the affected systems. Organizations using ClearQuest in production environments face significant risk exposure, as the vulnerability can be exploited without authentication and requires minimal technical expertise to implement. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that ClearQuest is commonly used for managing critical business requirements, change requests, and issue tracking in enterprise environments where data confidentiality and system availability are paramount.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing strict XML parsing controls and input validation measures across all affected ClearQuest components. Organizations should consider applying the latest security patches provided by IBM, which typically include XML parser updates and entity restriction configurations. Network segmentation and firewall rules can help limit the potential impact by restricting access to ClearQuest servers from untrusted networks. Additionally, implementing proper XML schema validation and disabling external entity resolution in XML processing libraries can prevent exploitation of similar XXE vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1213 - Data from Information Repositories, as it enables unauthorized access to stored data through manipulation of XML processing behavior, while also potentially supporting T1499 - Endpoint Termination as a denial of service vector. Organizations should also consider implementing application-level logging and monitoring to detect suspicious XML processing activities that may indicate exploitation attempts.