CVE-2001-1401 in Bugzilla
Summary
by MITRE
Bugzilla before 2.14 does not properly restrict access to confidential bugs, which could allow Bugzilla users to bypass viewing permissions via modified bug id parameters in (1) process_bug.cgi, (2) show_activity.cgi, (3) showvotes.cgi, (4) showdependencytree.cgi, (5) showdependencygraph.cgi, (6) showattachment.cgi, or (7) describecomponents.cgi.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2001-1401 represents a critical access control flaw in Bugzilla versions prior to 2.14 that fundamentally undermines the software's security model. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and parameter handling within the web application's core components, specifically affecting several key CGI scripts that manage bug tracking functionality. The flaw allows authenticated users to manipulate URL parameters containing bug identifiers, enabling them to bypass the intended permission controls that should restrict access to confidential or sensitive bug reports based on user roles and group memberships.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through parameter manipulation attacks where malicious users can modify bug ID values in the affected CGI scripts to access bugs they should not have permission to view. The vulnerability affects seven distinct scripts including process_bug.cgi which handles bug creation and modification, show_activity.cgi that displays bug change history, and showvotes.cgi which manages bug voting mechanisms. Additionally, the flaw impacts showdependencytree.cgi and showdependencygraph.cgi that display bug dependency relationships, showattachment.cgi for handling bug attachments, and describecomponents.cgi for component information retrieval. This broad scope indicates a systemic issue in how the application validates user permissions against requested resources rather than implementing proper authorization checks at each entry point.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows attackers to access confidential information that may include sensitive system details, security vulnerabilities, or proprietary data that should remain restricted to authorized personnel only. This access bypass represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and could lead to information disclosure attacks where unauthorized users gain visibility into sensitive bug reports that might contain security vulnerabilities, system weaknesses, or business-critical information. The vulnerability essentially renders the application's access control mechanisms ineffective, potentially exposing organizations to data breaches and compliance violations.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software applications, and represents a classic example of insecure direct object reference (IDOR) patterns that have been consistently documented in security frameworks and attack matrices. The flaw demonstrates how web applications can fail to implement proper input sanitization and authorization validation, creating pathways for privilege escalation attacks. Organizations using vulnerable versions of Bugzilla face significant risk of unauthorized information disclosure, particularly in environments where bug tracking systems contain sensitive data about security vulnerabilities, system configurations, or business-critical applications. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1213.002 which covers data from information repositories, highlighting how attackers can exploit access control flaws to extract sensitive data from web applications.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to Bugzilla version 2.14 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to properly validate user permissions against requested bug identifiers. Organizations should also implement additional security measures including input validation at all entry points, proper authorization checks before processing any user requests, and regular security assessments of web applications. Network segmentation and monitoring of unusual access patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Furthermore, administrators should review and tighten access controls for bug tracking systems, ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive bug reports and that all user activities are properly logged for audit purposes.