CVE-2016-0331 in Rational Team Concert
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IBM Rational Team Concert 6.0.1 and 6.0.2 before 6.0.2 iFix2 and Rational Collaborative Lifecycle Management 6.0.1 and 6.0.2 before 6.0.2 iFix2 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/16/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0331 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within IBM Rational Team Concert and Rational Collaborative Lifecycle Management products. This security weakness affects versions 6.0.1 and 6.0.2 of these enterprise collaboration platforms, specifically before the release of iFix2 updates. The flaw resides in how the applications handle URL parameters, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of authenticated user sessions. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only authentication to exploit, meaning that any user with valid credentials can potentially launch attacks against other users within the same system.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the web application's URL handling mechanisms. When users navigate to specially crafted URLs containing malicious payloads, the application fails to properly sanitize or encode these inputs before rendering them in web responses. This allows attackers to inject script code that executes in the browser context of other users who access the compromised URLs. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in software applications. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it leverages the trust relationship between the user and the application, making it difficult to detect and prevent.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking. Attackers can leverage this flaw to perform a range of malicious activities including stealing user credentials, modifying project data, accessing confidential information, or even escalating privileges within the collaborative environment. The affected systems typically handle sensitive development and lifecycle management data, making the potential damage substantial for organizations relying on these tools. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which involves establishing persistence through the manipulation of web applications. The remote nature of the vulnerability means that attackers can exploit it from anywhere with network access and valid credentials, making it particularly attractive for targeted attacks against development teams.
Organizations utilizing these IBM Rational products should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of iFix2 updates or equivalent security patches. The mitigation strategy should also include implementing additional defensive measures such as web application firewalls, input validation rules, and regular security assessments of the application environment. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability scanning to identify any instances where the vulnerable versions remain in production. Network segmentation and access controls can provide additional layers of protection while patches are being deployed. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing robust input validation processes to prevent injection attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing user education programs to raise awareness about suspicious URL patterns and potential social engineering aspects of such attacks.