CVE-2017-1113 in Rational Team Concert
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Rational Team Concert (RTC) 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: 121151.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2020
IBM Rational Team Concert 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 components, allowing malicious actors to inject malicious JavaScript code through user-controllable input fields. The flaw specifically manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in the web interface, creating an environment where attacker-controlled scripts can execute within the context of a victim's browser session.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting flaws resulting from inadequate sanitization of user input. The attack vector typically involves an authenticated user submitting malicious content through forms, comments, or other input mechanisms within the RTC web interface. When this content is subsequently displayed without proper encoding, the embedded JavaScript executes in the browser of any user who views the affected page. This creates a persistent threat where attackers can manipulate the application's behavior and potentially access sensitive information within the trusted session context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables sophisticated attack patterns that can compromise user credentials and session integrity. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability can perform session hijacking, steal authentication tokens, and potentially escalate privileges within the RTC environment. The vulnerability's presence in multiple versions of the software increases the attack surface and affects organizations relying on IBM Rational Team Concert for collaborative development and project management. This exposure can lead to unauthorized access to source code repositories, project data, and sensitive development artifacts that are typically protected by the application's access controls.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, output encoding, and content security policy enforcement to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability. The recommended approach involves implementing proper sanitization of all user inputs and ensuring that all dynamic content is properly encoded before rendering in the web interface. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious user activity patterns. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script injection highlights the need for comprehensive security monitoring and incident response procedures. Regular security updates and patch management processes should be prioritized to address this and similar vulnerabilities in enterprise collaboration platforms.