CVE-2018-1826 in Rational Collaborative Lifecycle Management
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Rational Collaborative Lifecycle Management 6.0 through 6.0.6.1 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: 150429.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/08/2023
IBM Rational Collaborative Lifecycle Management versions 6.0 through 6.0.6.1 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 manifests when user-supplied data is directly rendered in web pages without proper sanitization, creating an environment where attackers can execute arbitrary scripts in the context of authenticated users' browsers. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize user input, which directly maps to the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter. The security implications are severe as this allows attackers to hijack user sessions and potentially access sensitive credentials stored within trusted browser sessions. When authenticated users interact with maliciously crafted content, the injected JavaScript code executes in their browser context, enabling attackers to capture session cookies, steal authentication tokens, and perform actions on behalf of the legitimate user. The vulnerability specifically affects 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 project information. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that appear legitimate within the application's interface, making detection more challenging. The impact extends beyond simple credential theft as the compromised session can be used to access restricted project data, modify development artifacts, and potentially disrupt the entire collaborative development process. Organizations using this software face significant risk of data breaches and unauthorized access to their software development lifecycle management systems. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental failure in the application's security architecture, particularly in its handling of user-generated content and its lack of proper content security policies. IBM's official patch addresses this issue by implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms, ensuring that all user-supplied data is sanitized before being rendered in web pages. The fix aligns with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and follows the principle of least privilege by preventing malicious code execution in trusted user contexts. Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided patches and implement additional security measures such as web application firewalls and content security policies to mitigate the risk of exploitation. Regular security assessments and input validation testing should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of the application stack. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices and proper input sanitization in web applications, particularly those handling sensitive development lifecycle data.