CVE-2018-1829 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: 150432.
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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 framework, allowing malicious actors to inject malicious javascript code through user-controllable parameters. The flaw exists in the application's handling of user input fields and dynamic content generation processes, creating an opening for attackers to execute unauthorized scripts within the context of a victim's browser session. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize or encode user-provided data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content, making it susceptible to exploitation by threat actors who can manipulate the application's interface through crafted input sequences.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to hijack user sessions and potentially access sensitive information within trusted environments. When a victim interacts with maliciously crafted content, the injected javascript code can capture session cookies, credentials, or other sensitive data that the user has entered or that the application has displayed. This session hijacking capability allows attackers to impersonate legitimate users and gain unauthorized access to the Rational Quality Manager system, potentially compromising the integrity of quality management processes and access control mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically affects the web user interface components where user-generated content is displayed, making it particularly dangerous in collaborative environments where multiple users interact with shared quality management data.
The exploitation of this cross-site scripting vulnerability aligns with several tactics outlined in the attack framework, particularly those involving credential theft and session manipulation. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform session hijacking attacks, where they capture valid session tokens and use them to impersonate authenticated users. The vulnerability also fits within the broader category of web application attacks that target user interface elements, similar to techniques described in the attack pattern taxonomy for web application penetration testing. Organizations using IBM Rational Quality Manager in production environments face significant risk exposure, as this vulnerability could be exploited by both external attackers and malicious insiders to gain unauthorized access to quality management data and processes.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, output encoding, and proper content security policy enforcement to address this vulnerability. The recommended approach involves applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates released for IBM Rational Quality Manager versions 5.0 through 6.0.6, which typically include enhanced input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Additionally, implementing proper web application firewall rules and content security policies can help prevent exploitation attempts by blocking malicious script content before it reaches user browsers. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications within the organization's infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining secure coding practices and regular security updates in enterprise software environments where user interaction with web interfaces creates potential attack surfaces.