CVE-2018-1536 in Rational Rhapsody Design Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Rational Rhapsody Design Manager 5.0 through 5.0.2 and 6.0 through 6.0.5 and IBM Rational Software Architect Design Manager 5.0 through 5.0.2 and 6.0 through 6.0.1 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: 142558.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/18/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1536 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting multiple versions of IBM Rational Rhapsody Design Manager and IBM Rational Software Architect Design Manager. This security weakness exists within the web user interfaces of these enterprise modeling tools, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject persistent JavaScript code into the application's response handling. The affected versions span across both major release lines 5.0 and 6.0, with specific vulnerable ranges including 5.0 through 5.0.2, 6.0 through 6.0.5 for Rhapsody Design Manager and 5.0 through 5.0.2, 6.0 through 6.0.1 for Software Architect Design Manager. The vulnerability's presence in these widely used software configuration management tools poses significant risks to organizations relying on these platforms for system design and architecture documentation.
The technical implementation of this cross-site scripting vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the web application's user interface components. When users interact with the affected applications through web browsers, the system fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages. This allows attackers to submit malicious JavaScript payloads through various input vectors including form fields, URL parameters, or other user-controllable data entry points. The flaw specifically manifests when the application processes user input without sufficient sanitization measures, enabling the execution of arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of a victim's browser session. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a fundamental web application security weakness involving improper validation of input data before outputting it to web browsers.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-1536 extends beyond simple functionality alteration to encompass serious security implications including potential credential theft and session hijacking. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can execute JavaScript code that operates within the same security context as legitimate users, potentially accessing session cookies, form data, and other sensitive information. The vulnerability's ability to manipulate the intended functionality of the application creates opportunities for attackers to capture authentication tokens, steal user credentials, or redirect victims to malicious websites. This risk is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where these tools are used for critical system design and architecture work, as compromised sessions could provide unauthorized access to sensitive architectural documentation and design specifications. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers the use of JavaScript for executing malicious code within web browsers, and T1531, which addresses the use of credentials in compromised sessions.
Organizations utilizing affected IBM Rational products should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability. The primary recommended action involves applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates that specifically address the cross-site scripting flaw in the web user interfaces. Additionally, network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to detect and block malicious JavaScript injection attempts. Implementing strict content security policies that prevent execution of inline scripts and restricting the use of potentially dangerous JavaScript functions can also help reduce the attack surface. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their deployment environments to identify any instances of the vulnerable software versions and ensure comprehensive patch management processes are in place to prevent future occurrences of similar vulnerabilities. The remediation approach should also include user education regarding the risks of clicking untrusted links and the importance of maintaining updated browser security configurations to minimize potential exploitation opportunities.