CVE-2016-0325 in Rational Collaborative Lifecycle Management
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Rational Collaborative Lifecycle Management 3.0.1.6 before iFix8, 4.0 before 4.0.7 iFix11, 5.0 before 5.0.2 iFix18, and 6.0 before 6.0.2 iFix5; Rational Quality Manager 3.0.1.6 before iFix8, 4.0 before 4.0.7 iFix11, 5.0 before 5.0.2 iFix18, and 6.0 before 6.0.2 iFix5; Rational Team Concert 3.0.1.6 before iFix8, 4.0 before 4.0.7 iFix11, 5.0 before 5.0.2 iFix18, and 6.0 before 6.0.2 iFix5; Rational DOORS Next Generation 4.0 before 4.0.7 iFix11, 5.0 before 5.0.2 iFix18, and 6.0 before 6.0.2 iFix5; Rational Engineering Lifecycle Manager 4.x before 4.0.7 iFix11, 5.0 before 5.0.2 iFix18, and 6.0 before 6.0.2 iFix5; Rational Rhapsody Design Manager 4.0 before 4.0.7 iFix11, 5.0 before 5.0.2 iFix18, and 6.0 before 6.0.2 iFix5; and Rational Software Architect Design Manager 4.0 before 4.0.7 iFix11, 5.0 before 5.0.2 iFix18, and 6.0 before 6.0.2 iFix5 allow remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary OS commands via a crafted request.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/08/2019
This vulnerability represents a critical command injection flaw affecting multiple IBM Rational software products within the collaborative lifecycle management ecosystem. The vulnerability exists in versions prior to specific iFix releases across major product lines including Collaborative Lifecycle Management, Quality Manager, Team Concert, DOORS Next Generation, Engineering Lifecycle Manager, Rhapsody Design Manager, and Software Architect Design Manager. The flaw allows authenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary operating system commands through specially crafted requests that are not properly validated or sanitized by the affected applications.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-77, which specifically addresses command injection flaws where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into operating system commands without adequate sanitization. This type of vulnerability typically occurs when applications fail to properly escape or validate input parameters that are subsequently used in system command execution contexts. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious requests that include shell metacharacters or command separators, which then get interpreted by the underlying operating system when processed by the vulnerable software components.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to organizations utilizing these Rational products as it provides attackers with elevated privileges to execute arbitrary commands on the affected systems. The authenticated nature of the exploit means that an attacker would need valid credentials to leverage this vulnerability, but once exploited, the impact could be extensive including data exfiltration, system compromise, privilege escalation, and potential lateral movement within the network. The affected products are commonly used in enterprise environments for software development lifecycle management, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking to gain persistent access to development infrastructure.
The attack surface is particularly concerning given the widespread deployment of these Rational products across enterprise development teams and the critical nature of the systems they manage. Organizations using these products in production environments face potential exposure to attackers who could use this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to source code repositories, build systems, and other sensitive development assets. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple command execution to potentially enable complete system compromise and data theft, making it a high-priority issue for security teams to address immediately.
Mitigation strategies should focus on applying the vendor-provided iFix updates as soon as possible to patch the command injection vulnerability. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the exposure of these applications to untrusted networks. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious command injection patterns, monitoring system logs for unusual command execution patterns, and conducting regular security assessments of the affected applications. The remediation process should also include credential rotation for any compromised accounts and network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of keeping enterprise software up to date with security patches and maintaining comprehensive security monitoring across development and operational environments.