CVE-2017-1100 in Quality Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Quality Manager (RQM) 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0 is 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 X-Force ID: 120661.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/27/2020
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. This vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting attacks where malicious scripts are injected into web applications. The flaw allows authenticated users to embed arbitrary JavaScript code within the web interface, fundamentally compromising the application's security model and potentially enabling attackers to hijack user sessions. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web application's processing pipeline, creating an attack surface where user-supplied data is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to the browser. This particular weakness enables attackers to manipulate the application's behavior and potentially access sensitive information, including session credentials, through the trusted session established by legitimate users. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as the vulnerability can be exploited to perform actions on behalf of authenticated users, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where RQM is used for quality management and testing processes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it undermines the integrity of the entire quality management platform. Attackers can leverage this flaw to create persistent backdoors within the application, steal user authentication tokens, and potentially escalate privileges within the system. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges since it targets the web interface rather than requiring system-level access or administrative credentials. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which involves the use of JavaScript for execution and persistence. The attack chain typically involves an authenticated user visiting a malicious page or submitting crafted input that gets reflected back to other users, creating a scenario where session hijacking becomes possible. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in collaborative environments where multiple users interact with the same quality management platform. The web application's trust model is fundamentally compromised as users cannot distinguish between legitimate and malicious content, potentially leading to widespread credential theft and unauthorized access to quality management data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The primary solution involves implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the web application's codebase, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being processed or rendered. Organizations should deploy web application firewalls to monitor and filter malicious payloads attempting to exploit the XSS vulnerability. Regular security patching and updates become critical as IBM has likely released fixes for this vulnerability in subsequent versions of the software. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded, preventing the execution of unauthorized JavaScript code. Security awareness training for users becomes essential to prevent social engineering attacks that might exploit this vulnerability, particularly in scenarios where users are encouraged to submit test data or participate in quality assurance processes. Organizations should also implement proper session management controls, including secure cookie attributes and session timeout mechanisms, to minimize the window of opportunity for credential theft. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and adherence to OWASP Top Ten security guidelines, specifically addressing the need for proper input validation and output encoding to prevent XSS attacks. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application's codebase and ensure that all security controls remain effective against evolving attack vectors.