CVE-2021-20518 : Security Advisory and Response

IBM Jazz Foundation Products are vulnerable to cross-site scripting, posing a risk of altering the intended functionality with possible credential exposure. The CVE was published on March 29, 2021.

Understanding CVE-2021-20518

This section delves into the details of the vulnerability's impact, affected systems, and the steps to mitigate and prevent exploitation.

What is CVE-2021-20518?

CVE-2021-20518 refers to a cross-site scripting vulnerability in IBM Jazz Foundation Products that enables malicious users to insert arbitrary JavaScript code in the Web UI, potentially leading to credentials disclosure.

The Impact of CVE-2021-20518

The vulnerability presents a medium severity issue with a CVSS base score of 5.4, allowing attackers with low privileges to alter the web interface's behavior and compromise the confidentiality of the affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-20518

This section outlines the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

IBM Jazz Foundation Products are prone to cross-site scripting, facilitating the injection of malicious JavaScript code that can compromise user credentials.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected IBM products include Engineering Lifecycle Optimization (versions 7.0, 7.0.1, 7.0.2), Engineering Workflow Management (versions 7.0, 7.0.1, 7.0.2), Rational Team Concert (versions 6.0.2, 6.0.6, 6.0.6.1), and Rational Engineering Lifecycle Manager (versions 6.0.2, 6.0.6, 6.0.6.1).

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by injecting specially crafted JavaScript code into the web interface, leading to unauthorized access and potential data leakage.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section provides insights into the immediate steps to take, long-term security practices, and the importance of patching and updates.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users should apply official fixes provided by IBM, enforce strict input validation, and monitor for any unusual activities indicating a possible compromise.

Long-Term Security Practices

To enhance security posture, organizations should conduct regular security audits, educate users on safe browsing practices, and implement Web Application Firewalls (WAF) to filter out malicious content.

Patching and Updates

IBM users are advised to stay informed about security bulletins, promptly apply patches released by the vendor, and maintain a robust incident response plan to address any security breaches effectively.