CVE-2018-1916 in Rational Engineering Lifecycle Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Jazz Foundation (IBM Rational Engineering Lifecycle 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: 152740.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/01/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1916 affects IBM Jazz Foundation components including IBM Rational Engineering Lifecycle Manager versions 5.0 through 6.0.6, representing a critical cross-site scripting weakness that compromises web application security. This vulnerability resides within the web user interface of the application, creating an attack vector that enables malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into the system's web pages. The flaw specifically manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input before rendering it within the web interface, allowing attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of authenticated users' browsers. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-79, which defines cross-site scripting as a code injection attack that occurs when an application includes untrusted data in a web page without proper validation or escaping.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple functionality alteration, as it creates a pathway for credential theft and session hijacking within trusted environments. When authenticated users browse to maliciously crafted web pages or interact with compromised application features, the injected JavaScript code executes in their browser context, potentially capturing session cookies, login credentials, or other sensitive information. This risk is particularly severe because the attack occurs within the trusted session context, meaning that attackers can leverage existing user privileges and permissions to access restricted resources or perform unauthorized actions. The vulnerability essentially undermines the application's security model by allowing attackers to execute code with the privileges of legitimate users, creating a persistent threat vector that can be exploited repeatedly.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as part of the broader ATT&CK framework's initial access and execution phases, specifically mapping to techniques involving malicious code injection and credential access. The attack surface is particularly concerning for enterprise environments where IBM Rational Engineering Lifecycle Manager is used for managing software development processes, as these systems often contain sensitive intellectual property, development artifacts, and privileged access credentials. Organizations utilizing this software should consider the vulnerability's potential for lateral movement within their networks, as compromised user sessions could provide access to additional systems or data repositories that are protected by the same authentication mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patch application from IBM, as the vendor has likely released security updates addressing this specific flaw. Organizations should also implement additional security controls including input validation, output encoding, and web application firewalls to provide defense-in-depth protection. The implementation of content security policies can help prevent execution of unauthorized scripts, while regular security assessments and penetration testing should verify the effectiveness of implemented controls. Security teams should also consider monitoring for suspicious user activities and anomalous access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability could be leveraged for extended periods without detection. Organizations should treat this vulnerability as a high-priority issue requiring immediate attention and comprehensive remediation across all affected systems.