CVE-2018-1764 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: 148618.
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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 arbitrary JavaScript code through user-controllable input fields. The flaw specifically manifests when user-supplied data is rendered back to the browser without proper sanitization, creating an environment where attackers can execute malicious scripts in the context of authenticated users' sessions. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which identifies cross-site scripting as a fundamental weakness in web application security where untrusted data is improperly handled during web page generation. The attack vector typically involves an attacker crafting malicious input that gets stored or reflected within the application's interface, subsequently executing in the victim's browser when the compromised content is rendered. This vulnerability presents significant operational risks as it can lead to credential theft, session hijacking, and unauthorized access to sensitive test data and quality management information within the Rational Quality Manager environment. The impact extends beyond simple data exposure since authenticated users with legitimate access rights can be tricked into executing malicious code, potentially compromising the integrity of the entire quality management process. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for script injection and T1531 for modification of authentication processes, demonstrating how such flaws can enable broader exploitation techniques. The IBM X-Force ID 148618 further validates the severity and specific nature of this vulnerability within the IBM product ecosystem. Organizations using these versions face heightened risk of targeted attacks where attackers exploit the XSS vulnerability to establish persistent access to quality management systems, potentially compromising test results, defect tracking, and overall software quality assurance processes. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where multiple users collaborate on quality management tasks, as the injected scripts can target any user who views the compromised content, making it a widespread threat across team-based development workflows.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires attackers to identify input fields within the Rational Quality Manager interface that do not properly sanitize user input before rendering. Attackers typically leverage this weakness by injecting malicious JavaScript payloads through test case descriptions, defect reports, or other user-editable fields that are subsequently displayed to other users. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that malicious code can be delivered through crafted URLs or direct input manipulation, while stored XSS variants allow attackers to embed code that persists within the application's database. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that Rational Quality Manager is often used in enterprise environments where users have elevated privileges and access to sensitive quality metrics, test results, and development data. When combined with other attack techniques, such as social engineering or credential harvesting, this XSS vulnerability can enable attackers to escalate privileges and access additional systems within the organization's network infrastructure. The vulnerability's classification as a medium to high severity issue reflects the potential for privilege escalation and data compromise, particularly in environments where the application is integrated with other enterprise systems or used for critical quality assurance processes. Organizations should consider the broader implications of this vulnerability within their security posture, as it represents a foundational weakness that could be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks targeting the overall quality management and development lifecycle processes.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of input validation and output encoding controls within the Rational Quality Manager application. Organizations must ensure that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being rendered in the web interface, implementing proper HTML escaping and content security policies to prevent script execution. The recommended approach includes deploying web application firewalls and implementing strict input validation rules that reject or sanitize potentially malicious content. IBM has released patches and updates for affected versions, which should be applied immediately to address the identified vulnerability. Security teams should also implement monitoring solutions to detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts, including logging and alerting on suspicious user behavior patterns. Additional defensive measures include implementing role-based access controls, regular security assessments, and user education programs to reduce the risk of successful exploitation. The vulnerability's resolution requires careful attention to the application's configuration and input handling mechanisms, as improper patch deployment or configuration errors could leave systems still vulnerable. Organizations should conduct thorough testing of patches in non-production environments before deployment to ensure compatibility and prevent operational disruptions. The implementation of comprehensive security monitoring and incident response procedures is essential for detecting and mitigating potential exploitation attempts, particularly in environments where the application handles sensitive quality assurance data and user credentials. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and address similar weaknesses within the broader application ecosystem and supporting infrastructure.