CVE-2017-1792 in Rational Quality Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Rational Quality Manager 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: 137037.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2023
IBM Rational Quality Manager versions 5.0 through 5.0.2 and 6.0 through 6.0.5 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 components, allowing malicious actors to inject malicious JavaScript code through user-controllable input fields. The flaw specifically manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it within web pages, creating an environment where attacker-controlled scripts can execute in the context of authenticated user sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability enables attackers to leverage stored or reflected XSS vectors to manipulate the application's behavior and potentially access sensitive information. When users interact with the affected application, the malicious JavaScript code executes in their browser within the same security context as legitimate users, which can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, and unauthorized access to confidential data. The vulnerability particularly impacts the authentication and authorization mechanisms by allowing attackers to capture session tokens or credentials that are processed within the trusted application environment. This weakness aligns with CWE-79 which describes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, and represents a significant deviation from secure coding practices that require robust input validation and output encoding.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable attackers to manipulate the application's intended functionality and potentially compromise the integrity of quality management processes. An attacker could craft malicious inputs that, when viewed by other users, would execute arbitrary code and potentially escalate privileges within the application. The threat landscape for this vulnerability is particularly concerning given that IBM Rational Quality Manager is commonly used in enterprise environments where sensitive project data and quality metrics are stored. The vulnerability's exploitation can result in unauthorized access to test cases, test results, and other quality management artifacts, potentially affecting the overall security posture of organizations relying on these systems. This weakness can be mapped to attack techniques in the ATT&CK framework under the T1531 category which covers "Account Access Removal" and T1566 which covers "Phishing", as the vulnerability enables the exploitation of user sessions through malicious web content.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate application of IBM's security patches and updates, which address the root cause by implementing proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls to detect and block malicious script injection attempts, while establishing comprehensive input validation policies that prevent the execution of potentially harmful JavaScript code. Additional security measures include implementing content security policies that restrict script execution, regular security assessments of web applications, and user education regarding the dangers of interacting with untrusted content within the application environment. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices and the necessity of regular security testing to identify and remediate such flaws before they can be exploited in real-world scenarios.