CVE-2017-1649 in Rational Quality Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Rational Quality Manager (RQM) 5.0 through 5.02 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: 133259.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/19/2023
IBM Rational Quality Manager versions 5.0 through 5.02 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 framework, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into the user interface. The flaw specifically manifests when user-supplied data is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to the browser, creating an environment where attackers can execute malicious scripts in the context of authenticated sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding. The attack vector typically involves an attacker crafting malicious input that gets stored within the application's database or session management system, then subsequently displayed to other users without appropriate sanitization. When victims view the compromised content, their browsers execute the embedded JavaScript code within the context of their authenticated session with RQM.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can potentially lead to complete session hijacking and credential disclosure. Attackers can leverage this flaw to steal session cookies, capture user credentials, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The trusted session aspect of this vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows attackers to operate within the legitimate user's privileges and access rights, making detection more difficult. This type of attack maps to ATT&CK technique T1531, which involves modifying authentication mechanisms or session management to maintain persistent access.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of affected versions to the latest IBM Rational Quality Manager releases that contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms, enforce strict output encoding for all user-supplied data, and deploy web application firewalls to detect and prevent malicious script injection attempts. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in user activity that might indicate exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments should verify that all input handling mechanisms properly sanitize data before rendering in web interfaces. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect enterprise quality management platforms from sophisticated web-based attacks.