CVE-2018-1610 in Rational Doors Next Generation
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Rational DOORS Next Generation 5.0 through 5.0.2 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: 143931.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/19/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1610 affects IBM Rational DOORS Next Generation versions 5.0 through 5.0.2 and 6.0 through 6.0.6, representing a critical cross-site scripting vulnerability that compromises the web-based user interface of this requirements management and traceability tool. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is a fundamental web application security flaw that occurs when an application incorporates untrusted data into web pages without proper validation or encoding. The affected system is a collaborative platform used extensively in software development and systems engineering environments where requirements traceability and documentation management are critical functions.
The technical flaw manifests when the application fails to adequately sanitize user inputs within the web interface, allowing malicious actors to inject JavaScript code that executes in the context of other users' sessions. This occurs through improper handling of input parameters that are directly reflected in the web application's output without appropriate HTML encoding or validation mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically targets the web UI components where user-provided content is rendered back to the browser without sufficient sanitization, creating an environment where attackers can craft malicious payloads that persist within the application's interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it enables attackers to potentially steal session cookies, credentials, or other sensitive information from authenticated users within the trusted session context. This allows for privilege escalation attacks where an attacker can impersonate legitimate users and gain unauthorized access to requirements data, project information, or system resources. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where DOORS Next Generation is used for managing sensitive requirements and system specifications, as successful exploitation could lead to data breaches, intellectual property theft, or disruption of development processes. The attack vector typically involves social engineering to convince users to click on malicious links or interact with compromised application interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of affected IBM Rational DOORS Next Generation versions to the latest available releases that contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should also implement input validation and output encoding mechanisms at the application level to prevent unauthorized JavaScript execution, along with regular security assessments of web applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to the OWASP Top Ten security principles, particularly those related to input validation and output encoding. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring for suspicious user behavior can help detect potential exploitation attempts, while user education about phishing and social engineering attacks remains crucial for overall security posture. The IBM X-Force ID 143931 reference indicates that this vulnerability was recognized by IBM's security team and prioritized for remediation in subsequent software releases.