CVE-2016-6031 in Rational Quality Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Rational Quality Manager 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 Rational 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-based user interface. 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, creating an environment where attacker-controlled scripts can execute within the context of authenticated user sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the failure to properly escape or encode user input before displaying it in web responses. When users submit data through various interface components such as comments, test case descriptions, or other editable fields, the application fails to sanitize this input against known XSS attack patterns. This creates a persistent cross-site scripting vector that enables attackers to execute malicious scripts in the browser of any user who views the compromised content. The vulnerability specifically impacts the web UI components where user-generated content is displayed, making it particularly dangerous in collaborative environments where multiple users interact with shared test data and quality management artifacts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can lead to complete session hijacking and credential theft within trusted user sessions. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can steal session cookies, access sensitive test data, modify quality management records, and potentially escalate privileges within the Rational Quality Manager environment. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that Rational Quality Manager is typically used in enterprise environments where users maintain elevated access rights to quality assurance processes and may have access to sensitive project information. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to properly encode or escape user-controllable data in web applications.
The exploitation of this vulnerability follows standard XSS attack patterns where malicious scripts are embedded in user input fields and executed when other users view the affected pages. Attackers can craft payloads that steal session tokens, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject additional malicious code that persists in the application's data store. The IBM reference number 2000784 indicates this was properly documented and tracked within the vendor's security advisory system, highlighting the severity of the issue. Organizations using these versions of Rational Quality Manager face significant risk of unauthorized access to quality management data, potential data integrity compromise, and unauthorized modification of test cases and quality metrics. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to establish persistent access patterns within the quality management environment, potentially compromising the integrity of the entire quality assurance process.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the latest security patches from IBM, implementing proper input validation at all user-facing interfaces, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious script injection attempts. Additional defensive measures include implementing content security policies to restrict script execution, conducting regular security testing of web interfaces, and educating users about recognizing potentially malicious input. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input sanitization in web applications and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Scripting, specifically targeting web-based attack surfaces. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation and establish monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized access attempts or suspicious user activities within the Rational Quality Manager environment.