CVE-2015-5039 in Rational ClearCase
Summary
by MITRE
The Remote Client and change management integrations in IBM Rational ClearCase 7.1.x, 8.0.0.x before 8.0.0.18, and 8.0.1.x before 8.0.1.11 do not properly validate hostnames in X.509 certificates from SSL servers, which allows remote attackers to spoof servers and obtain sensitive information or modify network traffic via a crafted certificate. IBM X-Force ID: 106715.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-5039 affects IBM Rational ClearCase versions 7.1.x, 8.0.0.x before 8.0.0.18, and 8.0.1.x before 8.0.1.11, specifically within the Remote Client and change management integration components. This flaw represents a critical security weakness in the certificate validation process that undermines the integrity of SSL/TLS communications. The issue stems from insufficient hostname validation during SSL certificate verification, creating a pathway for man-in-the-middle attacks that can compromise the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive data exchanged between clients and servers.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper validation of X.509 certificate hostnames, which is a fundamental security mechanism designed to ensure that clients are communicating with legitimate servers. When SSL certificates are presented during secure communications, the hostname in the certificate should match the server's actual hostname to prevent attackers from impersonating legitimate systems. In this vulnerability, the validation process fails to properly verify hostname matches, allowing attackers to craft malicious certificates that appear valid to the ClearCase client. This weakness falls under CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041 for data manipulation through certificate spoofing.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it enables attackers to perform active network interference and data manipulation. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness to intercept and modify network traffic between ClearCase clients and servers, potentially compromising version control operations, source code integrity, and sensitive project information. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where ClearCase is used for managing critical software development assets, as successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized code modifications, data theft, or complete disruption of development workflows. The attack vector requires minimal privileges and can be executed remotely, making it an attractive target for threat actors seeking to compromise development infrastructure.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches for IBM Rational ClearCase versions affected by this vulnerability, specifically updating to versions 8.0.0.18, 8.0.1.11, or later releases. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous certificate validation behaviors, while security teams should review existing SSL certificate management policies to ensure proper hostname validation procedures are in place. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of the updated systems to verify that certificate validation functions correctly without disrupting legitimate operations. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing certificate pinning mechanisms as an additional layer of protection against similar vulnerabilities in the future, aligning with security best practices outlined in industry standards such as NIST SP 800-57 for cryptographic key management and TLS protocol implementations.