CVE-2017-1689 in DOORS Next Generation
Summary
by MITRE
IBM DOORS Next Generation (DNG/RRC) 6.0 is 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: 134064.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/25/2021
IBM DOORS Next Generation RRC 6.0 contains a cross-site scripting vulnerability that represents a critical security weakness in the web-based user interface. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, where the application fails to properly sanitize user input before rendering it in the web interface. The flaw enables attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code through input fields or parameters that are not adequately validated or escaped. When legitimate users interact with the vulnerable application, the injected scripts execute in their browser context, potentially compromising the security of active sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it creates opportunities for session hijacking and credential theft. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that steal session cookies, capture user credentials, or redirect victims to phishing sites that appear legitimate within the trusted application environment. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the trusted session context, meaning that compromised credentials could provide access to sensitive data and functionalities within the DOORS Next Generation system. This represents a significant risk to organizations that rely on the application for managing requirements and change control processes.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal privileges and can be achieved through various attack vectors including crafted input fields, URL parameters, or even through social engineering techniques that trick users into executing malicious payloads. IBM has classified this issue as a medium to high severity concern, and the vulnerability affects specific versions of the DOORS Next Generation platform that do not properly implement input sanitization mechanisms. Organizations should consider this vulnerability in the context of the ATT&CK framework under the T1531 technique for "Modify Authentication Token" and T1071.004 for "Application Layer Protocol: DNS" when attackers attempt to establish persistent access through compromised session tokens.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's web interface. Organizations should deploy web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script injection attempts, while also ensuring that all user-supplied data undergoes proper sanitization before being rendered in the browser. Regular security updates and patches from IBM should be applied immediately upon availability, as the vendor has likely released remediation measures for this specific vulnerability. Additionally, implementing content security policies and disabling unnecessary JavaScript functionality can significantly reduce the attack surface and prevent successful exploitation of this cross-site scripting vulnerability.