CVE-2017-1561 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: 131760.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1561 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 undermines the security posture of these enterprise quality management platforms. This vulnerability resides within the web user interface components of the applications, specifically in how they handle user input and render content, creating an attack surface where malicious actors can inject arbitrary JavaScript code. The flaw manifests when the applications fail to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web pages, allowing attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of a victim's browser session.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web application framework. When users interact with the quality management tools through web interfaces, they can potentially submit data containing malicious script payloads that are subsequently rendered without proper sanitization. This weakness enables attackers to manipulate the application's behavior by injecting JavaScript code that executes in the victim's browser, potentially capturing session cookies, credentials, or other sensitive information transmitted within the trusted session context. The vulnerability specifically aligns with CWE-79, which describes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a classic cross-site scripting implementation that can be exploited through various vectors including form submissions, URL parameters, or user-generated content fields.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-1561 extends beyond simple script execution, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can compromise the integrity of quality management processes and sensitive project data. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can potentially hijack user sessions, gain unauthorized access to quality management repositories, and manipulate test results or project tracking information. The risk is particularly elevated in enterprise environments where these tools are used for critical quality assurance processes, as compromised sessions could lead to unauthorized modifications of test cases, execution results, or project timelines that directly impact software quality metrics and release decisions. Organizations utilizing these platforms face significant exposure to credential theft, data manipulation, and potential insider threat scenarios where attackers can maintain persistent access through stolen session tokens.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of input validation and output encoding controls within the affected applications, following established security frameworks and best practices. Organizations should prioritize applying the vendor-provided patches and updates released by IBM to address the XSS vulnerability in their Rational Quality Manager and Collaborative Lifecycle Management deployments. Security teams should implement comprehensive web application firewalls and content security policies that can detect and block malicious script injections, while also conducting thorough code reviews and security assessments of custom extensions or modifications to the platform. The remediation process must include proper sanitization of all user inputs, implementation of strict output encoding mechanisms, and regular security testing to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing security awareness training for users who interact with these platforms, as social engineering attacks that leverage XSS vulnerabilities often rely on user interaction with malicious payloads. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script injection emphasizes the need for comprehensive defensive measures that address both the application layer and user interaction patterns within enterprise quality management environments.