CVE-2017-1524 in Jazz Foundation
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Jazz Foundation (IBM Rational Collaborative Lifecycle Management 5.0 and 6.0) could allow an authenticated user to obtain sensitive information from a specially crafted HTTP request that could be used to aid future attacks. IBM X-Force ID: 129970.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1524 affects IBM Jazz Foundation components within IBM Rational Collaborative Lifecycle Management versions 5.0 and 6.0, representing a significant information disclosure weakness that could enable authenticated attackers to extract sensitive data through carefully crafted HTTP requests. This flaw resides in the web application layer of the platform where user authentication is required but insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms exist, allowing maliciously constructed requests to bypass normal security controls and reveal confidential information that could be leveraged in subsequent attack phases.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate parameter handling within the HTTP request processing pipeline of the Jazz Foundation component. When an authenticated user submits a specially crafted HTTP request, the system fails to properly validate or sanitize input parameters, potentially causing the application to expose internal system information, configuration details, or sensitive data structures that would normally be protected from unauthorized access. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information, and represents a classic example of how insufficient input validation can create pathways for information leakage. The flaw demonstrates a weakness in the principle of least privilege where authenticated access does not necessarily guarantee proper access control boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the sensitive data obtained through these crafted requests could provide attackers with critical intelligence for planning more sophisticated attacks. The extracted information might include system configurations, user session details, internal resource paths, or other metadata that could be used to refine exploitation techniques or identify additional targets within the same environment. This vulnerability particularly affects collaborative development environments where multiple users interact with shared systems, as the authenticated nature of the attack means that even users with legitimate access could be compromised through the exploitation of this weakness. The potential for escalation exists, as the leaked information could be used to craft more targeted attacks or to identify other system weaknesses that could be exploited in combination with this vulnerability.
Organizations utilizing IBM Rational Collaborative Lifecycle Management versions 5.0 and 6.0 should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant IBM security patches, implementing additional input validation controls, and reviewing access controls to ensure that even authenticated users are properly constrained in their data access capabilities. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous HTTP request patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of implementing proper security controls around authenticated sessions and ensuring that systems properly handle all types of input, including malformed or crafted requests. This case exemplifies how seemingly minor input validation gaps can create significant security risks in enterprise collaboration platforms, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security testing and validation of all application interfaces, particularly those that handle user-provided data in web-based environments. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and additional security controls to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive system information and to protect against similar vulnerabilities that could be exploited in combination with this weakness.