CVE-2018-1407 in Rational Team Concert
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Rational Team Concert 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: 138445.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1407 affects IBM Rational Team Concert versions 5.0 through 5.0.2 and 6.0 through 6.0.5, representing a critical cross-site scripting vulnerability that compromises the web-based user interface of this collaborative development platform. This flaw exists within the application's input validation mechanisms, specifically in how the system processes user-supplied data within web requests. The vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of input parameters that are subsequently rendered back to users through the web interface, creating an attack surface where malicious actors can inject malicious JavaScript code.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when authenticated users interact with the Rational Team Concert web application and inadvertently encounter crafted input fields or parameters that contain embedded JavaScript payloads. When the application renders these inputs without proper sanitization or encoding, the malicious code executes within the context of the victim's browser session. This cross-site scripting vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which classifies it as a weakness in input validation where user-supplied data is not properly escaped or filtered before being rendered in web pages. The attack vector typically involves manipulating form fields, URL parameters, or any input mechanism that allows user data to be stored and subsequently displayed within the application's interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple functional disruption to encompass serious security implications including potential credential theft and session hijacking. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, which would allow them to impersonate legitimate users within the Rational Team Concert environment. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within a trusted session context, meaning that successful exploitation could grant attackers access to sensitive development data, source code repositories, and collaborative workspaces that are typically protected by authentication mechanisms. This creates a significant risk for organizations using Rational Team Concert for managing proprietary software development projects, as attackers could gain unauthorized access to intellectual property and development artifacts.
Organizations should implement comprehensive mitigation strategies that include immediate patching of affected versions to address the root cause of the vulnerability. The recommended approach involves applying the vendor-provided security updates that contain proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent JavaScript code execution. Additionally, network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide an additional layer of defense by monitoring and filtering suspicious requests containing known malicious patterns. Security teams should also implement proper input validation at multiple layers including client-side and server-side controls, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before processing or display. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which covers 'Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript', indicating that attackers may leverage such vulnerabilities to execute malicious scripts within the targeted environment. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in their software ecosystems and establish proper security awareness training for developers to prevent insecure coding practices that could lead to similar issues in custom applications.