CVE-2019-4083 in Rational Collaborative Lifecycle Management
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Jazz Foundation products (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: 157383.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-4083 affects IBM Jazz Foundation products including IBM Rational Collaborative Lifecycle Management versions 6.0 through 6.0.6.1, representing a critical cross-site scripting flaw that compromises web application security. This vulnerability resides within the web user interface components of the application, specifically in how the system processes and renders user-supplied input without adequate sanitization or validation mechanisms. The flaw enables malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code through carefully crafted input fields or parameters that are subsequently executed within the context of legitimate user sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the IBM Jazz Foundation framework. When users interact with the web interface, the application fails to properly sanitize data entered into form fields or URL parameters before rendering them back to the browser. This creates an environment where attacker-controlled JavaScript code can be executed in the victim's browser context, leveraging the trust relationship between the user and the application. The vulnerability specifically impacts the web UI components that handle user input and display dynamic content, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through various attack vectors including crafted URLs, form submissions, or even via social engineering techniques that trick users into clicking malicious links.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can potentially lead to full session hijacking and credential disclosure within trusted sessions. Attackers can leverage the XSS flaw to steal session cookies, authenticate as legitimate users, and access sensitive information or perform unauthorized actions within the application. This represents a significant threat to enterprise security, particularly in environments where the Rational Collaborative Lifecycle Management system manages critical development processes, configuration data, and access control information. The vulnerability's potential for credential theft and session manipulation aligns with attack patterns documented in the mitre attack framework under the credential access and persistence tactics, making it a particularly concerning weakness in enterprise development environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-4083 should prioritize immediate patch application from IBM, as the vendor has released updates addressing this specific vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures to prevent malicious code injection, following secure coding practices aligned with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional protective layers while patches are deployed, though these should not be considered permanent solutions. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of all IBM Jazz Foundation deployments and monitor for potential exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on unusual user behavior patterns or unauthorized access attempts that might indicate successful exploitation of this vulnerability. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the applied patches do not introduce compatibility issues with existing workflows or integrations within the development lifecycle management environment.