CVE-2018-1914 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

IBM Rational Engineering Lifecycle Manager versions 5.0 to 6.0.6 are susceptible to a cross-site scripting vulnerability, potentially leading to unauthorized JavaScript code injection and credential exposure.

Understanding CVE-2018-1914

This CVE pertains to a security weakness in IBM Rational Engineering Lifecycle Manager versions 5.0 through 6.0.6 that allows for cross-site scripting attacks.

What is CVE-2018-1914?

The vulnerability in IBM Rational Engineering Lifecycle Manager versions 5.0 to 6.0.6 enables users to insert malicious JavaScript code into the Web User Interface, altering its behavior and posing a risk of credential exposure during trusted sessions.

The Impact of CVE-2018-1914

Attack Complexity: Low
Attack Vector: Network
Base Score: 5.4 (Medium Severity)
Exploit Code Maturity: High
User Interaction: Required
Scope: Changed
Confidentiality Impact: Low
Integrity Impact: Low
Privileges Required: Low
Remediation Level: Official Fix
Temporal Score: 5.2 (Medium Severity)
Vector String: CVSS:3.0/A:N/AC:L/AV:N/C:L/I:L/PR:L/S:C/UI:R/E:H/RC:C/RL:O

Technical Details of CVE-2018-1914

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows for cross-site scripting attacks, enabling the injection of unauthorized JavaScript code into the Web UI.

Affected Systems and Versions

Rational Engineering Lifecycle Manager 5.0
Rational Engineering Lifecycle Manager 5.0.1
Rational Engineering Lifecycle Manager 5.0.2
Rational Engineering Lifecycle Manager 6.0
Rational Engineering Lifecycle Manager 6.0.1
Rational Engineering Lifecycle Manager 6.0.2
Rational Engineering Lifecycle Manager 6.0.3
Rational Engineering Lifecycle Manager 6.0.4
Rational Engineering Lifecycle Manager 6.0.5
Rational Engineering Lifecycle Manager 6.0.6

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by inserting unauthorized JavaScript code into the Web User Interface, potentially leading to credential exposure.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply official fixes provided by IBM to address the vulnerability.
Regularly monitor for security advisories and updates from IBM.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement secure coding practices to prevent cross-site scripting vulnerabilities.
Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify and mitigate similar risks.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all affected versions of IBM Rational Engineering Lifecycle Manager are updated with the latest security patches and fixes.