CVE-2021-20351 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

IBM Engineering products are vulnerable to a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack that allows attackers to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into the Web UI. This can lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information or user credentials. The CVE was published on February 26, 2021, with a CVSS base score of 5.4 (Medium severity).

Understanding CVE-2021-20351

This section delves into the details of the CVE-2021-20351 vulnerability affecting various IBM Engineering products.

What is CVE-2021-20351?

CVE-2021-20351 is a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability present in IBM Engineering products. It enables threat actors to execute malicious scripts on the user's web browser, potentially leading to data theft or session hijacking.

The Impact of CVE-2021-20351

The vulnerability poses a medium-severity risk, allowing attackers to manipulate the Web UI to execute unauthorized JavaScript code. This could result in the compromise of sensitive data or authentication credentials within a trusted session.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-20351

This section covers the technical aspects of the CVE-2021-20351 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The XSS flaw in IBM Engineering products allows adversaries to insert and execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the Web UI, breaching the security boundaries of the application.

Affected Systems and Versions

The following IBM products versions are affected: Rational Team Concert (6.0.2, 6.0.6, 6.0.6.1), Engineering Workflow Management (7.0, 7.0.1, 7.0.2), Rational Quality Manager (6.0.2, 6.0.6, 6.0.6.1), Engineering Test Management (7.0.0, 7.0.1, 7.0.2), Engineering Lifecycle Optimization (7.0, 7.0.1, 7.0.2), Rational DOORS Next Generation (6.0.2, 6.0.6, 6.0.6.1, 7.0, 7.0.1, 7.0.2).

Exploitation Mechanism

The XSS vulnerability requires user interaction to exploit, enabling attackers to inject and execute malicious scripts to compromise user sessions.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section discusses the measures to mitigate and prevent the CVE-2021-20351 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

IBM Engineering product users should apply official fixes provided by IBM to address the XSS vulnerability.
Users are advised to be cautious while interacting with potentially malicious web pages or content.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regular security assessments and code reviews can help identify and address XSS vulnerabilities in IBM Engineering products.
Security training for developers and users can increase awareness of XSS attacks and safe web practices.

Patching and Updates

IBM releases patches and updates to address vulnerabilities; users should promptly apply these fixes to protect their systems and data.