CVE-2018-1766 in Team Concert
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Team Concert (RTC) 5.0 through 5.0.2 and 6.0 through 6.0.5 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: 148620.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/03/2023
IBM Team Concert versions 5.0 through 5.0.2 and 6.0 through 6.0.5 contain 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 parameters. The flaw specifically manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages, creating an attack surface where attackers can manipulate the application's behavior through crafted input. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as Cross-Site Scripting, which is a well-documented weakness in web applications where user input is not properly validated or escaped before being rendered in web pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it enables attackers to manipulate the trusted session of authenticated users. When a victim interacts with a maliciously crafted link or page element, the embedded JavaScript code executes within the context of the victim's browser session, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, credentials, or other sensitive information. This type of attack aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which covers the use of malicious links or files to execute code in the context of a user's session. The vulnerability particularly affects the web UI components of IBM Team Concert, which are critical for collaboration and project management activities, making it a significant concern for organizations that rely on these systems for development workflow management.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal technical expertise and can be executed through various vectors including email attachments, web page content, or collaborative editing features within the Team Concert environment. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that appear legitimate to users, leveraging the trust relationship between the user and the application to execute their malicious code. The specific versions affected indicate that this vulnerability was present across multiple release lines, suggesting a fundamental flaw in the input handling mechanisms rather than a localized issue. Organizations utilizing these versions face significant risk as the vulnerability allows for credential theft, session hijacking, and potential privilege escalation within the application context. The IBM X-Force ID 148620 further validates the severity and recognition of this vulnerability within the cybersecurity community, emphasizing the need for immediate remediation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of affected IBM Team Concert versions to the latest available releases that contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures such as input validation at multiple layers, output encoding for all user-controllable data, and regular security testing of web applications. Network segmentation and monitoring for suspicious activity can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding practices as outlined in OWASP Top 10 and other industry security standards. Regular security updates and vulnerability management processes are essential to protect against similar issues in collaborative development environments where user interaction with web interfaces is common.