CVE-2017-1609 in Quality Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Quality Manager (RQM) 5.0 through 5.0.2 and 6.0 through 6.0.6 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: 132929.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/04/2023
IBM Quality Manager versions 5.0 through 5.0.2 and 6.0 through 6.0.6 contain a cross-site scripting vulnerability that represents a critical security flaw in the web-based user interface. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's web components, allowing malicious actors to inject malicious JavaScript code through user-controllable input fields. The flaw specifically manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in the web interface, creating an opening for attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of a victim's browser session. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79 as Cross-Site Scripting, which is a well-documented weakness in web applications where user input is not properly validated or escaped before being rendered to end users. The security implications extend beyond simple script execution, as the vulnerability can be exploited to hijack user sessions and potentially access sensitive credentials within trusted sessions, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where authentication and authorization mechanisms are paramount. The attack vector typically involves an attacker crafting malicious input containing JavaScript payloads that are then stored or processed by the application and subsequently executed in the browser of unsuspecting users who view the affected content. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically JavaScript, and represents a significant risk to the confidentiality and integrity of the application's user data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends to the entire IBM Quality Manager ecosystem, affecting organizations that rely on the platform for quality management and testing processes. When exploited, the XSS vulnerability enables attackers to perform session hijacking attacks, steal authentication tokens, and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive test data, quality metrics, and configuration information. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates within the trusted session context, meaning that successful exploitation could allow attackers to impersonate legitimate users and perform actions with their privileges. Organizations using these vulnerable versions face potential data breaches, unauthorized access to quality management systems, and possible compromise of the entire testing infrastructure. The impact is compounded by the fact that IBM Quality Manager is often used in enterprise environments where sensitive product information, test results, and development data are stored, making the potential for information disclosure particularly severe. Additionally, the vulnerability could be leveraged as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, potentially leading to privilege escalation or lateral movement within the network infrastructure.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations to protect their systems while planning for the necessary software updates. The primary mitigation strategy involves applying the official patches and fixes released by IBM to address the specific XSS vulnerability in the affected versions. Security teams should also implement input validation and output encoding measures at the application level to prevent malicious script injection, including implementing Content Security Policy headers and ensuring proper HTML escaping of user-generated content. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to detect and block malicious payloads attempting to exploit the vulnerability. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to verify that the mitigations are effective and to identify any additional vulnerabilities that may exist within the broader application ecosystem. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and ensuring that all components within enterprise systems receive timely security updates, as the exploitation of such vulnerabilities can result in significant business disruption and regulatory compliance issues. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures specifically tailored to address XSS-related security incidents.