CVE-2018-1823 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: 150426.
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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-provided data that is subsequently rendered in web pages without proper sanitization. According to CWE-79, this vulnerability falls under the category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically representing a stored XSS attack vector where malicious code persists in the application's database and executes whenever the affected page is loaded. The vulnerability enables attackers to manipulate the intended functionality of the application by executing arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of a user's browser session.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can potentially lead to credential disclosure within trusted sessions. When authenticated users interact with the affected application, the malicious JavaScript code can access session cookies, form data, and other sensitive information that the browser stores. This creates a significant risk for organizations using IBM Rational Quality Manager, as attackers can hijack user sessions and gain unauthorized access to quality management data, test cases, and other sensitive information. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the trusted session context, meaning that once an attacker successfully injects malicious code, they can potentially access all the privileges and permissions that the legitimate user possesses. The IBM X-Force ID 150426 confirms the severity and provides additional context for the specific exploitation techniques that can be employed against this vulnerability.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense to protect against this XSS vulnerability. The primary mitigation involves input validation and output encoding across all user-controllable data fields within the application's web interface. This includes implementing proper HTML escaping and sanitization of user inputs before rendering them in web pages. Additionally, organizations should deploy Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the sources from which scripts can be executed, preventing unauthorized code injection. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for Scripting and T1531 for Account Access. The recommended remediation includes applying the latest security patches provided by IBM, implementing web application firewalls, and conducting regular security assessments of the application's input handling mechanisms. Network segmentation and monitoring for suspicious user activities can also help detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing additional authentication controls and session management improvements to limit the potential damage from successful XSS attacks, particularly in environments where the application handles sensitive quality management data and user credentials.