CVE-2018-1763 in Rational Quality Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Rational Quality Manager 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: 148617.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/01/2023
IBM Rational Quality Manager versions 5.0 through 6.0.6 contains 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 malicious JavaScript code through user-controllable input fields. 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 manipulate the application's behavior through crafted payloads.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to properly escape or encode user input before incorporating it into web page content. This weakness enables attackers to execute scripts in the context of the victim's browser session, potentially compromising the confidentiality and integrity of the application. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning because it allows for credential disclosure within a trusted session, meaning that authenticated users could have their session tokens and sensitive information exposed to unauthorized parties.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks such as session hijacking, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the application's trusted environment. Attackers can leverage this flaw to steal user credentials, modify test cases, manipulate quality metrics, and potentially access restricted functionality. The vulnerability's presence in multiple versions of IBM Rational Quality Manager indicates a systemic issue in the application's input handling mechanisms, affecting organizations that rely on this quality management tool for software testing and project tracking processes.
Organizations utilizing affected versions of IBM Rational Quality Manager should immediately implement mitigations including input validation, output encoding, and proper content security policies to prevent exploitation. The recommended approach includes implementing strict sanitization of all user inputs, enforcing proper HTTP headers such as Content Security Policy to restrict script execution, and conducting regular security assessments of the application's web interface components. Additionally, organizations should consider upgrading to patched versions of the software and implementing network segmentation to limit the potential attack surface. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation in web applications, as highlighted by the ATT&CK framework's emphasis on web application vulnerabilities and their potential for credential theft and session manipulation within enterprise environments.