CVE-2017-1315 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: 125727.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1315 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 resides in the web user interface components of these enterprise quality management platforms, which are widely used in software development lifecycle processes. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's web framework, allowing malicious actors to inject malicious JavaScript code through user-controllable parameters. The vulnerability has been assigned CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting attacks, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments, as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to systems. The affected versions represent a significant portion of IBM's quality management suite, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations that rely on these platforms for critical software development processes.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when authenticated users interact with maliciously crafted content within the web interface, enabling attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of the victim's browser session. The vulnerability allows for session hijacking and credential disclosure, as the injected JavaScript can access and exfiltrate sensitive information from the trusted browser session. Attackers can manipulate the web application's user interface to redirect users to malicious sites, steal session cookies, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users without their knowledge. The flaw particularly impacts the authentication and authorization mechanisms of these applications, as successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive project data, test results, and quality management information. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that these are enterprise-grade applications used by development teams, making the potential compromise of credentials and sensitive project data particularly damaging. The attack vector typically involves the injection of malicious payloads through forms, URL parameters, or other user-input fields that are not properly sanitized before rendering in the web interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate credential theft to encompass potential data breaches, system compromise, and disruption of development processes within organizations. When exploited successfully, the vulnerability can lead to unauthorized modification of test cases, alteration of quality metrics, and potential exposure of proprietary software development information. Organizations using these platforms may experience significant business disruption as attackers can manipulate the quality management processes, potentially leading to deployment of compromised software versions. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to establish persistent access points within development environments, as the stolen credentials can be used to gain deeper system access. Security teams face challenges in detecting and mitigating this vulnerability due to its stealthy nature, as the injected JavaScript may execute without obvious user interaction or system alerts. The affected applications are commonly used in regulated environments where compliance with standards such as ISO 27001 and NIST cybersecurity frameworks requires robust protection against such vulnerabilities.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates released for these specific versions of IBM Rational Quality Manager and IBM Rational Collaborative Lifecycle Management. The recommended approach involves upgrading to patched versions that address the cross-site scripting vulnerability through proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Security configurations should be reviewed to ensure that all user inputs are properly sanitized before processing, and that appropriate content security policies are implemented to prevent script execution. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous behavior that may indicate exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on unusual JavaScript execution patterns within the application environment. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify additional vulnerabilities in the broader application ecosystem, as this vulnerability may indicate broader security weaknesses in the platform's architecture. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls to provide additional protection layers and establish incident response procedures specifically designed to handle cross-site scripting attacks targeting enterprise quality management systems. The mitigation strategy should align with industry best practices for web application security and incorporate lessons learned from similar vulnerabilities documented in security frameworks such as those provided by OWASP and NIST.