CVE-2017-1691 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: 134066.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1691 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 in the web user interface components of these applications, creating an attack surface where malicious actors can inject arbitrary JavaScript code through user input fields or parameters. The flaw enables attackers to manipulate the intended behavior of the web application by executing malicious scripts within the context of authenticated user sessions, potentially compromising the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive data processed by these systems.
The technical implementation of this cross-site scripting vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web application's user interface components. When users interact with the application's web interface, particularly through forms, comments, or other input fields, the application fails to properly sanitize or encode user-supplied data before rendering it back to the browser. This inadequate data handling creates an environment where JavaScript payloads can be executed in the context of legitimate user sessions, bypassing standard security controls and authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically impacts the web UI rendering process, where untrusted data flows directly into HTML output without proper sanitization, creating a persistent XSS attack vector that can be exploited across multiple user sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it creates a significant risk for credential theft and session hijacking within trusted environments. When authenticated users interact with the compromised application, attackers can leverage the XSS vulnerability to steal session cookies, capture login credentials, or perform unauthorized actions on behalf of legitimate users. The vulnerability's exploitation potential is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where these tools are used for managing sensitive software development processes and quality assurance activities. The compromised systems may be used to access confidential project data, manipulate test results, or gain elevated privileges within the application, potentially affecting the entire software development lifecycle management process.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including input validation controls, output encoding mechanisms, and regular security updates to address the identified cross-site scripting flaw. The recommended approach involves deploying web application firewalls, implementing proper content security policies, and ensuring all user inputs are properly sanitized before processing. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify similar weaknesses in related systems and applications. The remediation process requires careful attention to the specific versions affected, as IBM has released patches and updates to address this vulnerability. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring and detection measures to identify potential exploitation attempts and maintain audit trails of user activities within the affected applications.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and represents a classic example of how insufficient input validation can create persistent security weaknesses. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving credential access through web application exploitation and session management attacks, potentially enabling adversaries to maintain persistent access to enterprise development environments. The threat landscape for this vulnerability includes both automated scanning tools and sophisticated attackers seeking to exploit enterprise software platforms, making proactive remediation essential for maintaining security posture in development and quality assurance environments.