CVE-2014-3103 in Rational ClearCase
Summary
by MITRE
The Web component in IBM Rational ClearQuest 7.1 before 7.1.2.15, 8.0.0 before 8.0.0.12, and 8.0.1 before 8.0.1.5 does not set the secure flag for the session cookie in an https session, which makes it easier for remote attackers to capture this cookie by intercepting its transmission within an http session.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3103 affects IBM Rational ClearQuest web components across multiple version ranges, specifically impacting versions 7.1 before 7.1.2.15, 8.0.0 before 8.0.0.12, and 8.0.1 before 8.0.1.5. This security flaw represents a critical weakness in session management practices that undermines the integrity of secure communications between web clients and the application server. The vulnerability resides in the web component's improper handling of session cookies when operating over secure https connections, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise user sessions.
The technical flaw manifests when the web application fails to properly configure session cookies with the secure flag during https sessions. This configuration oversight allows the application to transmit session identifiers through http protocols even when users are connected via secure https channels. The secure flag is a critical HTTP cookie attribute that instructs web browsers to only transmit the cookie over secure HTTPS connections, preventing interception through man-in-the-middle attacks or network sniffing operations. Without this flag, session cookies become vulnerable to transmission over unencrypted http connections, making them susceptible to capture by malicious actors positioned within the network traffic path.
This vulnerability significantly impacts operational security by creating opportunities for session hijacking attacks that can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data and administrative privileges within the ClearQuest environment. The flaw enables attackers to intercept session cookies during transmission and subsequently impersonate legitimate users, potentially gaining access to confidential project data, configuration settings, and business-critical information stored within the Rational ClearQuest system. The ease with which this vulnerability can be exploited makes it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where ClearQuest is used for managing critical business processes and compliance-related workflows.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-614, which describes the weakness of storing sensitive data in cookies without the secure flag, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security standards. The attack vector described in the vulnerability corresponds to techniques categorized under the MITRE ATT&CK framework within the credential access category, specifically targeting session management weaknesses to obtain unauthorized access to system resources. Organizations using affected versions of IBM Rational ClearQuest should prioritize immediate patching to address this vulnerability, as the window of opportunity for exploitation remains open until the secure flag is properly implemented in session cookie handling. The remediation process requires updating to the patched versions specified in IBM security advisories, which typically include proper cookie configuration that enforces secure transmission only over encrypted channels.