CVE-2018-1405 in Rational Quality Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Rational Quality Manager (RQM) 5.0 through 5.02 and 6.0 through 6.0.6 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: 138441.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/19/2023
IBM Rational Quality Manager versions 5.0 through 5.02 and 6.0 through 6.0.6 contain a cross-site scripting vulnerability that represents a critical security weakness in the web-based user interface. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding. The flaw exists in how the application processes user input within the web interface, allowing malicious actors to inject JavaScript code that executes in the context of other users' sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability enables attackers to craft malicious payloads that can be executed when legitimate users view affected pages within the Rational Quality Manager environment. When users interact with the web application, their browsers process the injected JavaScript code as if it originated from the trusted application, creating a dangerous trust relationship that can be exploited for session hijacking. The vulnerability specifically targets the web user interface components where user-supplied data is rendered without adequate sanitization, making it possible for attackers to embed malicious scripts that can access session cookies, form data, and other sensitive information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution to potentially compromise the entire security posture of organizations using Rational Quality Manager. Attackers can leverage this weakness to steal user credentials, modify test cases, manipulate quality management data, and gain unauthorized access to sensitive project information. The vulnerability particularly threatens environments where multiple users collaborate on quality management processes, as a single compromised user session can provide attackers with access to comprehensive test data and quality metrics. This risk is exacerbated by the fact that the vulnerability operates within a trusted session context, making detection more difficult and allowing for prolonged unauthorized access.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding controls to prevent JavaScript injection in user-supplied data. The recommended approach involves implementing proper HTML encoding for all user-provided content before rendering it in web pages, as well as implementing content security policies that restrict script execution. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious user input patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and input validation, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1212 which focuses on exploitation of software vulnerabilities. Regular security updates and patch management procedures should be enforced to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities, with particular attention to the specific version ranges mentioned in the CVE description where the flaw was identified and addressed through IBM security patches.