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CVE Record

CVE-2020-4857: IBM Engineering products are vulnerable to stored cross-site scripting.

IBM Engineering products are vulnerable to stored 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: 190460.

MediumCVSS 6.4Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2020-4857 is a stored cross-site scripting issue in several IBM Engineering web products. A logged-in user could save JavaScript into the web interface, causing trusted sessions to run unintended code. Business impact is mainly credential disclosure or workflow manipulation inside engineering lifecycle systems, not direct server takeover.

Executive priority

Prioritize remediation for internet-facing or partner-accessible engineering systems. For internal-only deployments, schedule prompt patching because the issue can expose credentials or alter trusted engineering workflows once an authenticated user stores malicious content.

Technical view

The flaw affects listed IBM Rational and Engineering Lifecycle products across 6.0.2, 6.0.6, 6.0.6.1, 7.0, 7.0.1, and 7.0.2 variants. CVSS 3.0 is 6.4 with network access, low privileges, low complexity, changed scope, and low confidentiality and integrity impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is likely where affected IBM Engineering web applications are deployed and reachable by authenticated users. Internet-facing or broadly accessible internal deployments carry higher risk because stored script content can affect trusted users within project workflows.

Exploitation context

The CVSS vector lists exploit maturity as high, but the provided sources do not state active exploitation and KEV is false. Treat this as credible stored-XSS risk, especially in environments with many contributors or external project collaborators.

Researcher notes

The source bundle does not identify a specific vulnerable parameter, endpoint, or patch version. Avoid assuming more affected products than listed. Validation should focus on product/version inventory, access boundaries, role permissions, and confirmation of IBM advisory remediation.

Mitigation direction

  • Review IBM advisory 6417585 for the vendor-provided remediation path.
  • Apply IBM-supported fixes or upgrades for affected product versions.
  • Restrict access to trusted authenticated users until remediation is complete.
  • Review project permissions for users who can create or edit stored web content.
  • Monitor IBM X-Force entry 190460 for any updated guidance.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory IBM Engineering, Rational Quality Manager, Rational Team Concert, and DOORS Next deployments.
  • Compare installed versions against the affected versions in the CVE record.
  • Confirm whether affected web interfaces are reachable from untrusted networks.
  • Review audit logs for unusual content changes by low-privileged users.
  • Verify remediation status against IBM advisory guidance after updates.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
4

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

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CVE-2020-4857 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
6.4 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/PR:L/A:N/S:C/AC:L/AV:N/UI:N/C:L/I:L/RC:C/E:H/RL:O

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
3Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
6.4CVSS 3.0MediumCVSS:3.0/PR:L/A:N/S:C/AC:L/AV:N/UI:N/C:L/I:L/RC:C/E:H/RL:O3.12.7Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

6.4Medium
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2020-4857Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/PR:L/A:N/S:C/AC:L/AV:N/UI:N/C:L/I:L/RC:C/E:H/RL:O

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
IBMRational Quality Manager6.0.2, 6.0.6, 6.0.6.1Listed
IBMRational Team Concert6.0.2, 6.0.6, 6.0.6.1Listed
IBMEngineering Workflow Management7.0, 7.0.1, 7.0.2Listed
IBMEngineering Test Management7.0.0, 7.0.1, 7.0.2Listed
IBMRational DOORS Next Generation6.0.2, 6.0.6, 6.0.6.1, 7.0, 7.0.1, 7.0.2Listed
IBMEngineering Lifecycle Optimization7.0, 7.0.1, 7.0.2Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.