CVE-2018-1688 in Jazz Foundation
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Jazz Foundation (IBM Rational Collaborative Lifecycle Management 5.0 through 6.0.6) is 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: 145509.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/01/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1688 affects IBM Jazz Foundation components within IBM Rational Collaborative Lifecycle Management versions 5.0 through 6.0.6, representing a critical cross-site scripting vulnerability that compromises web application security. This flaw exists in the web user interface implementation where insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it within web pages. The vulnerability stems from the application's inability to adequately filter or escape malicious script content submitted by users, creating an environment where attackers can inject harmful JavaScript code into the application's response.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when authenticated users interact with the web interface and submit malicious payloads through input fields or parameters that are subsequently reflected back to other users without proper sanitization. This allows attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of a victim's browser session, potentially enabling session hijacking, credential theft, and unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability specifically targets the web UI components where user input is processed and displayed, making it particularly dangerous in collaborative environments where multiple users interact with shared data and workflows. According to CWE classification, this represents a classic cross-site scripting vulnerability categorized under CWE-79, which deals with improper neutralization of input during web page generation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can lead to complete session compromise and unauthorized access to collaborative development environments. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, modify user permissions, access confidential project data, and potentially escalate privileges within the collaborative lifecycle management system. The threat is particularly significant in enterprise environments where IBM Rational Collaborative Lifecycle Management serves as a central platform for software development collaboration, making it a prime target for adversaries seeking persistent access to development workflows and intellectual property. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531, which focuses on use of web shell and session hijacking capabilities, and represents a critical entry point for attackers seeking to maintain long-term access within development ecosystems.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding controls, proper sanitization of all user-supplied data, and deployment of web application firewalls to filter malicious payloads. The recommended approach involves implementing comprehensive input validation mechanisms that reject or escape potentially harmful characters and sequences, combined with proper output encoding that ensures all dynamic content is rendered safely within the web context. Additionally, organizations should enforce strict access controls, implement session management best practices, and consider deploying security monitoring solutions to detect and respond to suspicious activities. Regular security updates and patches from IBM should be applied immediately upon availability, while application developers should conduct thorough security reviews of input handling mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities in custom extensions or modifications to the platform.