CVE-2002-0008 in Bugzilla
Summary
by MITRE
Bugzilla before 2.14.1 allows remote attackers to (1) spoof a user comment via an HTTP request to process_bug.cgi using the "who" parameter, instead of the Bugzilla_login cookie, or (2) post a bug as another user by modifying the reporter parameter to enter_bug.cgi, which is passed to post_bug.cgi.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/24/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-0008 represents a critical authorization bypass flaw in Bugzilla versions prior to 2.14.1 that fundamentally compromises the integrity of user authentication and access controls within the bug tracking system. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and authentication mechanisms that allow malicious actors to manipulate HTTP requests to manipulate user identities and post data as unauthorized users. The flaw specifically targets the process_bug.cgi and enter_bug.cgi endpoints, which are core components of Bugzilla's bug reporting and commenting functionality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the absence of proper authentication verification when processing user comments and bug reports. Attackers can leverage the "who" parameter in process_bug.cgi requests to spoof user comments without proper authentication, effectively bypassing the Bugzilla_login cookie authentication mechanism. Additionally, the vulnerability allows manipulation of the reporter parameter in enter_bug.cgi, which is subsequently passed to post_bug.cgi, enabling attackers to post bugs as if they were another user. This dual attack vector demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the application's privilege management and user identity verification processes.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security risks for organizations relying on Bugzilla for software development and bug tracking. An attacker could post malicious comments that appear to come from legitimate users, potentially misleading developers and stakeholders about the nature of bugs or security issues. The ability to post bugs as another user could lead to unauthorized bug creation, data manipulation, and potential information disclosure. The vulnerability also undermines the audit trail functionality that Bugzilla provides, as users cannot trust the authenticity of comments and bug reports. This compromise affects not only individual user accounts but also the overall integrity of the bug tracking database and collaborative development processes.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems, and represents a classic example of insecure direct object reference or authentication bypass flaws. From an adversary perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1566, specifically the "Phishing" sub-technique, as attackers could use this flaw to post misleading information that appears to come from trusted sources. Organizations using affected Bugzilla versions should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to Bugzilla 2.14.1 or later, implementing proper input validation for all user parameters, and conducting thorough security reviews of authentication mechanisms. Additional defensive measures should include monitoring for unusual commenting patterns and implementing additional authentication layers for critical bug tracking operations.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability requires immediate patching of the Bugzilla application to version 2.14.1 or later, where proper authentication checks have been implemented. System administrators should also review and strengthen input validation mechanisms, particularly for parameters that control user identity and authorization levels. The vulnerability highlights the importance of implementing proper session management and authentication verification at every request point, especially for web applications that handle user-generated content and collaborative data entry. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as request rate limiting and enhanced logging to detect and prevent exploitation attempts of similar authorization bypass vulnerabilities.