CVE-2017-1717 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: 134796.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2023
This vulnerability exists in 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. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web user interface, allowing malicious actors to inject malicious JavaScript code through user-controllable parameters. This weakness falls under CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities where web applications fail to properly sanitize user inputs before rendering them in web pages. The flaw enables attackers to manipulate the intended functionality of the application by executing arbitrary code within the context of a victim's browser session.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is particularly severe given the nature of these applications which handle sensitive test data, requirements, and collaborative development information. When exploited, the XSS vulnerability allows attackers to steal session cookies, credentials, and other sensitive information from authenticated users who are logged into the system. This enables attackers to impersonate legitimate users and potentially gain unauthorized access to critical test management resources, including test cases, test results, and project documentation. The vulnerability specifically targets the web user interface components where user inputs are not adequately sanitized, creating opportunities for persistent or reflected XSS attacks that can be executed through various vectors including email links, comment fields, or any input parameter that gets rendered back to users.
The attack surface is particularly concerning for organizations utilizing these tools in enterprise environments where collaborative development processes are critical. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to test management systems, potentially compromising the integrity of test data and development processes. The IBM X-Force ID 134796 classification indicates the severity and recognition of this vulnerability within the security community, highlighting its potential for causing significant operational disruption. Organizations using these versions of Rational Quality Manager and Collaborative Lifecycle Management face substantial risk of credential theft, data exposure, and potential system compromise, especially when users interact with untrusted content or when attackers can craft convincing phishing scenarios that exploit this vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected versions to address the root cause of the XSS vulnerability through proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive web application firewalls and content security policies to detect and block malicious script injections. Regular security assessments of web applications should include thorough testing for XSS vulnerabilities using automated scanning tools and manual penetration testing approaches. The implementation of proper input sanitization techniques, including HTML escaping and proper encoding of user-supplied data, should be enforced throughout the application codebase. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing security training for developers to prevent similar vulnerabilities in future application development cycles, adhering to secure coding practices that align with industry standards such as OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks. Network segmentation and privilege-based access controls should also be implemented to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.