CVE-2020-4697 in Jazz Foundation
Summary
by MITRE • 01/09/2021
IBM Jazz Foundation products are 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: 186790.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/10/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-4697 affects IBM Jazz Foundation products, which are widely used collaboration platforms for software development teams. These products include various components such as Rational Team Concert, Rational Quality Manager, and other integrated development tools that facilitate project management and software lifecycle coordination. The affected systems typically operate within enterprise environments where developers, testers, and project managers collaborate on software development projects through web-based interfaces. The vulnerability manifests as a cross-site scripting flaw that compromises the security integrity of these collaborative platforms.
This cross-site scripting vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web user interface components of IBM Jazz Foundation products. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code through user-controllable input fields or parameters that are not properly sanitized before being rendered in the web interface. When legitimate users view pages containing this malicious content, the embedded JavaScript executes in their browser context, potentially compromising the user's session and credentials. The vulnerability specifically targets the web-based presentation layer where user interactions are processed and displayed, creating an attack vector that leverages the trust relationship between users and the application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can lead to credential disclosure within trusted sessions. Attackers can exploit this flaw to steal session cookies, authentication tokens, or other sensitive information that users might have entered into the affected web forms. This compromises the confidentiality and integrity of user sessions, potentially allowing unauthorized access to development projects, source code repositories, and other sensitive organizational data. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where users have elevated privileges or access to critical development resources, amplifying the potential damage to organizational security posture and intellectual property.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, beginning with immediate patching of affected IBM Jazz Foundation products to the latest security releases. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional protection by monitoring and filtering malicious requests before they reach vulnerable components. Input validation controls should be strengthened to ensure all user-supplied data is properly sanitized and encoded before processing. Security awareness training for development teams can help prevent the introduction of insecure coding practices. According to CWE standards, this vulnerability maps to CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, while the ATT&CK framework categorizes this under T1566 for phishing techniques and T1071 for application layer protocols. Organizations should also consider implementing session management controls and monitoring for anomalous user behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts.