CVE-2018-1408 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: 138446.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2023
IBM Rational Team Concert 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 arbitrary JavaScript code through user-controllable parameters. The flaw exists in the application's handling of user-supplied data that is subsequently rendered in web pages without proper sanitization, creating an environment where attackers can execute malicious scripts in the context of authenticated users' sessions. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize user input, specifically manifesting as a cross-site scripting attack vector that can be exploited through web-based interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to manipulate the intended functionality of the Rational Team Concert application. When authenticated users browse to maliciously crafted pages or interact with compromised content, the injected JavaScript code executes within their browser context, potentially compromising the security of their sessions. This opens avenues for credential theft, session hijacking, and unauthorized access to sensitive project data and development resources. The vulnerability particularly affects the trusted session environment where users have elevated privileges and access to critical development artifacts, making it especially dangerous for organizations relying on Rational Team Concert for collaborative software development processes. Attackers can leverage this weakness to establish persistent access to development environments and potentially compromise entire development workflows.
Organizations utilizing these vulnerable versions of IBM Rational Team Concert face significant risks including potential data breaches, unauthorized code modifications, and compromise of intellectual property. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill and can be accomplished through standard web-based attack techniques, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where development teams frequently interact with the platform. The attack surface is broad as the vulnerability affects multiple versions within the 5.0 and 6.0 release lines, indicating a widespread exposure across various deployment scenarios. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script injection and T1531 for credential access, representing both execution and persistence vectors within the attack lifecycle. The IBM X-Force ID 138446 further validates the severity and recognition of this vulnerability within the security community, emphasizing the need for immediate remediation efforts. Organizations should prioritize applying IBM's security patches and updates to address this vulnerability while implementing additional monitoring measures to detect potential exploitation attempts.