CVE-2018-1982 in Rational Team Concert
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Rational Team Concert 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: 154135.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/01/2023
IBM Rational Team Concert 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 falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in software applications. The vulnerability allows authenticated users to inject malicious JavaScript code into the web application's interface, potentially compromising the security of the entire system. The flaw exists due to insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web UI components that process user-supplied data. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that get executed in the context of other users' sessions, effectively bypassing normal security boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it creates a potential pathway for credential theft and session hijacking. When users interact with the compromised application interface, the injected JavaScript code can access sensitive session data, cookies, and potentially capture login credentials transmitted within the trusted session. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Rational Team Concert is used for collaborative development and project management. The attack surface is amplified by the fact that the vulnerability affects multiple versions within the 5.0 through 6.0.6 release range, indicating a widespread issue that would require comprehensive patching across affected deployments.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which covers script injection attacks and T1531 which addresses credential access through web application vulnerabilities. The attack chain typically begins with an authenticated user exploiting the XSS flaw to inject malicious scripts, followed by session hijacking or credential harvesting. The IBM X-Force ID 154135 assigned to this vulnerability indicates its recognition within the security community and suggests that IBM has documented the specific attack vectors and exploitation methods. Organizations using Rational Team Concert in production environments must consider the risk of supply chain attacks where malicious actors could leverage this vulnerability to gain access to sensitive development data and intellectual property.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of affected versions to address the underlying XSS vulnerability through proper input sanitization and output encoding. Organizations should implement web application firewalls and content security policies to prevent unauthorized script execution. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications. Additionally, network segmentation and privilege separation can help limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches in enterprise collaboration tools and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing throughout the software development lifecycle to prevent such flaws from reaching production environments.