CVE-2017-1652 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: 133263.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1652 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 integrity of these enterprise test management platforms. This vulnerability resides within the web user interface components of the applications, where insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it within the browser environment. The flaw manifests when legitimate users interact with the system's web interface and inadvertently execute malicious JavaScript code that has been injected through vulnerable input fields or parameters.
The technical exploitation of this cross-site scripting vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious payloads that leverage the application's failure to properly validate and sanitize user inputs. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, where the system does not adequately filter or escape user-controllable data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages. Attackers can leverage this weakness to inject malicious scripts that execute within the context of a victim's browser session, potentially compromising the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive information. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution to include session hijacking and credential theft, as the malicious code can access and exfiltrate session cookies or authentication tokens that are typically stored in the browser's local storage or memory.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations utilizing these IBM quality management tools, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can compromise the security of entire development and testing environments. When successful, the vulnerability allows attackers to establish persistent access to trusted sessions, enabling them to perform actions on behalf of legitimate users without proper authorization. This capability directly violates fundamental security principles of authentication and authorization, potentially leading to unauthorized access to test data, configuration changes, and sensitive project information. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in collaborative environments where multiple stakeholders interact with the platform, as a single compromised session can provide attackers with access to comprehensive test management data and potentially influence the quality assurance processes of critical software development projects.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, beginning with immediate patching of affected systems to the latest available versions that contain the necessary security fixes. The remediation process should include comprehensive input validation mechanisms, proper output encoding, and the implementation of content security policies that restrict script execution within the application's web interface. Additionally, organizations should deploy web application firewalls to monitor and filter malicious traffic patterns associated with cross-site scripting attacks, while establishing regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities within the broader application ecosystem. The mitigation strategy should also incorporate user education programs to raise awareness about phishing attacks and social engineering techniques that commonly precede successful exploitation attempts. According to the ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1531 for credential access, highlighting the need for comprehensive security controls that address both the exploitation vector and potential post-exploitation activities.