CVE-2016-9697 in Rhapsody DM
Summary
by MITRE
An unspecified vulnerability in IBM Rhapsody DM 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0 could allow an attacker to perform a JSON Hijacking Attack. A JSON Hijacking Attack may expose to an attacker information passed between the server and the browser. IBM Reference #: 1999960.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/10/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-9697 affects IBM Rhapsody DM versions 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0, representing a critical security flaw that enables JSON Hijacking attacks. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of web application security issues that compromise data integrity and confidentiality. The vulnerability specifically targets the communication channel between web servers and browsers, creating potential exposure points for sensitive information. IBM Rhapsody DM is a requirements management and modeling tool that facilitates collaborative development environments, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to exploit web application weaknesses. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified indicates that the exact technical mechanism remains undisclosed, though the implications for data exposure are significant within the context of web-based applications.
The technical flaw manifests through improper handling of JSON data structures within the IBM Rhapsody DM web interface, allowing attackers to intercept and manipulate data exchanges between client and server components. This vulnerability enables attackers to perform cross-site request forgery operations that can capture sensitive information transmitted via JSON format. The attack vector typically involves crafting malicious requests that can access or modify data flows without proper authorization. According to CWE standards, this vulnerability maps to CWE-346, which addresses "Improper Verification of Source of a Communication Channel," and potentially CWE-20, "Improper Input Validation," as the system fails to properly validate the origin and integrity of JSON data. The attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK techniques involving credential access and data exfiltration through web application vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it compromises the integrity of the requirements management processes that IBM Rhapsody DM supports. Attackers could potentially access sensitive project information, requirements specifications, or development artifacts that are transmitted through JSON interfaces. This exposure poses significant risks to organizations relying on the tool for critical software development projects, particularly in regulated environments where data protection is paramount. The vulnerability affects not only individual user data but also organizational intellectual property and strategic development information. Organizations using these specific versions of IBM Rhapsody DM face potential regulatory compliance issues and increased risk of competitive disadvantage through information leakage.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-9697 should prioritize immediate patching of affected IBM Rhapsody DM versions to the latest available releases that address this JSON Hijacking vulnerability. Organizations must implement proper input validation mechanisms and ensure that JSON data is properly sanitized before processing. Network monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous JSON traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should consider implementing Content Security Policy headers and cross-site request forgery tokens to prevent unauthorized data access. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in web applications. Additionally, organizations should establish secure coding practices and ensure that all developers understand the risks associated with JSON data handling and cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to validate that the patched environment properly handles JSON data without exposing sensitive information.