CVE-2016-6022 in Quality Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Quality Manager (RQM) 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0 are vulnerable to cross-site scripting. This vulnerability allows users to embed arbitrary JavaScript code in the Web UI thus altering the intended functionality potentially leading to credentials disclosure within a trusted session. IBM Reference #: 2000784.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/24/2020
IBM Quality Manager versions 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0 contain a cross-site scripting vulnerability that represents a critical security flaw in the web user interface implementation. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's web framework, allowing malicious actors to inject malicious JavaScript code through user-controllable input fields. The flaw exists in the application's handling of user-supplied data that is subsequently rendered in web pages without proper sanitization or encoding, creating an environment where attacker-controlled scripts can execute within the context of authenticated user sessions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows standard XSS attack patterns where an attacker crafts malicious payloads that target input fields, parameters, or form elements within the RQM web interface. When vulnerable data is processed and displayed without proper HTML escaping or context-appropriate encoding, the injected JavaScript code executes in the browser of legitimate users who visit affected pages. This creates a persistent threat vector that can be leveraged for session hijacking, credential theft, and privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability specifically impacts the web-based user interface components that handle user-generated content, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users interact with shared quality management data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or display issues, as it provides attackers with the capability to establish persistent access within trusted sessions. When authenticated users interact with compromised RQM interfaces, the injected JavaScript can capture session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of the authenticated user. This risk is particularly severe in quality management environments where sensitive data about software products, testing results, and development processes are handled, potentially exposing confidential information that could impact intellectual property or regulatory compliance. The vulnerability enables attackers to escalate privileges and access systems or data that would normally be restricted to authorized personnel, creating significant business continuity and security risks.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation controls, output encoding mechanisms, and regular security assessments of the RQM web interface components. The recommended approach involves deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script injection attempts, implementing proper content security policies to restrict script execution, and ensuring all user inputs are properly sanitized before being processed or displayed. Organizations should also consider implementing additional authentication measures and monitoring for suspicious activities within the RQM environment. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which describes cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege and secure coding practices. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving client-side exploitation and credential access, highlighting the need for comprehensive security controls that address both server-side and client-side attack vectors in enterprise quality management systems.