CVE-2017-1250 in Rational Quality Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Rational Quality Manager and IBM Rational Collaborative Lifecycle Management 5.0 through 5.0.2 and 6.0 through 6.0.5 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 X-Force 124630.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1250 affects IBM Rational Quality Manager and IBM Rational Collaborative Lifecycle Management versions 5.0 through 5.0.2 and 6.0 through 6.0.5, representing a critical cross-site scripting vulnerability that undermines the security posture of these enterprise quality management platforms. This flaw exists within the web user interface components of the applications, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into the application's response stream. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it within the web interface, allowing attackers to exploit this weakness through crafted input fields or parameters.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by crafting malicious payloads that, when executed within a victim's browser session, can manipulate the application's intended behavior. The attack typically involves injecting JavaScript code through input fields, URL parameters, or other user-controllable data points that are not adequately sanitized before being displayed to users. When a legitimate user views the compromised content, their browser executes the injected JavaScript code within the context of their authenticated session, potentially enabling session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions within the application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or display manipulation, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can compromise the integrity of user sessions and sensitive data within trusted environments. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially access session cookies, steal user credentials, modify application data, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where these tools are used for quality management, testing, and collaborative development processes, as the compromised sessions could lead to unauthorized changes in test cases, defect tracking, or access to proprietary software development information. The attack surface is broad since the vulnerability affects multiple versions of the software, making it a significant concern for organizations maintaining legacy systems.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including input validation controls, output encoding mechanisms, and regular security updates to address the identified XSS flaw. The recommended approach involves deploying web application firewalls with XSS detection capabilities, implementing proper content security policies, and ensuring all user inputs are properly sanitized before being rendered in the web interface. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their deployment environments, review user access controls, and implement monitoring mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and the necessity of implementing defense-in-depth strategies that protect against both known and emerging threats in enterprise software environments. Organizations should also consider implementing the ATT&CK framework's mitigation strategies for web application attacks, particularly focusing on input validation and output encoding controls that align with industry best practices for preventing cross-site scripting vulnerabilities.