CVE-2017-1281 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 ID: 124759.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1281 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 flaw that compromises web application security. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically targeting the web user interface components of these enterprise quality management platforms. The flaw enables malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code through user input fields or parameters within the web application, fundamentally undermining the security model of these tools used for software quality assurance and lifecycle management.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize or validate user-supplied input before rendering it within the web interface. This inadequate input validation allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that execute within the context of authenticated user sessions, potentially exploiting the trust relationship between the user and the application. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the web application layer where user interactions are processed, making it accessible through standard web browser interfaces without requiring elevated privileges or specialized attack vectors.
Operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can lead to credential theft, session hijacking, and unauthorized access to sensitive project data within the quality management environment. Attackers could leverage this flaw to steal session cookies, capture user credentials, or manipulate application functionality to gain unauthorized access to test results, defect tracking information, or other confidential data managed by these tools. The potential for privilege escalation exists when the affected applications handle administrative functions or access to sensitive quality metrics, making this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors targeting enterprise software development environments.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust input validation mechanisms, output encoding, and proper sanitization of all user-supplied data within the web application. Organizations should ensure that all affected versions are updated to the latest patches provided by IBM, as these releases typically include fixes for the XSS vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers, regular security scanning of web applications, and comprehensive user input validation can significantly reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for Credential Access and T1566.001 for Phishing, making it a critical target for defensive measures in enterprise security programs. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious script injection patterns within their network traffic to detect potential exploitation attempts.