CVE-2014-3105 in Rational ClearCase
Summary
by MITRE
The OSLC integration feature in 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 provides different error messages for failed login attempts depending on whether the username exists, which allows remote attackers to enumerate account names via a series of requests.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3105 resides within the Web component of IBM Rational ClearQuest versions 7.1 prior to 7.1.2.15, 8.0.0 prior to 8.0.0.12, and 8.0.1 prior to 8.0.1.5. This issue manifests through the OSLC integration feature which exhibits inconsistent error messaging behavior during authentication attempts. The flaw represents a classic account enumeration vulnerability that violates fundamental security principles by providing different responses based on whether a username exists in the system. This inconsistent error handling creates a predictable pattern that attackers can exploit to systematically determine valid user accounts through repeated authentication attempts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to maintain consistent error responses regardless of authentication outcome. When an attacker submits a login request, the system provides distinct error messages depending on whether the username exists in the user database. If the username does not exist, the system returns one type of error message, while a valid username with incorrect credentials triggers a different response. This differential behavior directly violates security best practices and creates an information disclosure vulnerability that enables unauthorized account discovery. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses information exposure through improper error handling, and specifically relates to CWE-384, which covers session management flaws that allow account enumeration.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple account enumeration, as it provides attackers with foundational information necessary for more sophisticated attacks. Once valid usernames are discovered through this method, attackers can proceed with targeted password spraying, brute force attacks, or credential stuffing campaigns against the identified accounts. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of IBM Rational ClearQuest, creating widespread exposure across organizations that have not applied the relevant security patches. This enumeration capability significantly reduces the entropy of potential attack vectors and makes subsequent authentication attacks much more efficient and successful. The impact is particularly severe in environments where user accounts may be reused across systems or where the identified accounts have elevated privileges within the ClearQuest environment.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of their IBM Rational ClearQuest installations to the latest recommended versions that address the account enumeration issue. The recommended mitigation strategy involves implementing consistent error messaging across all authentication attempts, ensuring that all failed login attempts return identical error responses regardless of whether the username exists. This approach aligns with the principle of least information disclosure and prevents attackers from gaining intelligence about valid accounts through error response analysis. Security teams should also consider implementing additional controls such as account lockout mechanisms, rate limiting for authentication attempts, and monitoring for suspicious login patterns. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1078 Account Enumeration and T1110 Credential Stuffing, where the initial enumeration provides the necessary data for more advanced attack techniques. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining consistent security responses and highlights how seemingly minor implementation flaws can create significant security risks.