CVE-2017-1312 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: 125723.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1312 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 stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web user interface components of these enterprise quality management platforms. The flaw enables attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code through user-controllable input fields, which then executes within the context of other users' sessions when they view the compromised content.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize user input before rendering it in web pages, creating an environment where malicious scripts can be executed in the browser of authenticated users. This type of vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as "Cross-site Scripting" and represents a fundamental weakness in input validation and output encoding practices. The vulnerability specifically impacts the web-based interfaces of these IBM products, where users can submit data that gets reflected back to other users without proper sanitization, creating a persistent XSS vector.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can lead to complete session hijacking and credential theft within trusted sessions. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability can steal session cookies, authenticate as legitimate users, and potentially access sensitive project data, test results, and quality management information. The threat is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where these tools are used for managing critical software development processes and quality assurance workflows. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1531 - "Account Access Removal" and T1078 - "Valid Accounts" through session manipulation and credential theft techniques.
Organizations utilizing these IBM products face significant risk from this vulnerability, as it allows attackers to establish persistent access to quality management systems and potentially compromise entire development lifecycles. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that these are enterprise-grade tools used by development teams, quality assurance professionals, and project managers who maintain access to sensitive business-critical data. The IBM X-Force ID 125723 indicates this was recognized as a substantial security concern by the vendor's security team, emphasizing the need for immediate remediation. The vulnerability affects both version 5.0.x and 6.0.x release series, indicating it was present across multiple generations of the product line and required comprehensive patching across affected deployments.
Recommended mitigations include immediate application of vendor security patches and updates, implementation of web application firewalls with XSS detection capabilities, and enhanced input validation procedures. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies to limit script execution, regular security assessments of web applications, and user education regarding the dangers of clicking untrusted links or submitting unverified content within these applications. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper input validation and output encoding in web applications, particularly in enterprise environments where the consequences of successful exploitation can be severe and far-reaching.