CVE-2017-1168 in Rational Engineering Lifecycle Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Rational Engineering Lifecycle Manager 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: 123187.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/08/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1168 affects IBM Rational Engineering Lifecycle Manager versions 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0, representing a critical cross-site scripting flaw that compromises the security integrity of the web-based user interface. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a weakness in web applications that allow arbitrary script execution within user contexts. The flaw enables attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code through the web interface, potentially undermining the trust model of the application and creating opportunities for session hijacking and credential theft.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the Rational Engineering Lifecycle Manager's web components. When users interact with the application's web interface, the system fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it back to the browser. This oversight creates an attack surface where malicious actors can craft specially formatted input that, when processed by the application, gets executed as JavaScript code in the context of other users' sessions. The vulnerability specifically targets the web UI components that handle user-generated content, making it particularly dangerous in collaborative development environments where multiple users interact with shared project data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, creating significant risks for organizations relying on Rational Engineering Lifecycle Manager for critical software development processes. Attackers exploiting this flaw can potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or execute unauthorized actions within the application on behalf of legitimate users. The vulnerability's ability to facilitate credentials disclosure within trusted sessions aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1539 - Steal Web Session Cookie, making it a serious concern for enterprise security. Organizations using this software face potential data breaches, unauthorized access to sensitive development artifacts, and compromise of intellectual property stored within the lifecycle management system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-1168 should prioritize immediate patch application from IBM, as the vendor has likely released security updates addressing the cross-site scripting vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's web interface, ensuring all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before processing. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection by monitoring and filtering malicious traffic patterns. Security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses in other enterprise applications, while implementing proper user access controls and session management practices. The remediation process must include thorough testing of patched versions to ensure that the XSS vulnerability is completely resolved without introducing new security issues. Organizations should also establish incident response procedures specifically addressing session hijacking and credential theft scenarios to minimize potential damage from exploitation attempts.