CVE-2002-0009 in Bugzilla
Summary
by MITRE
show_bug.cgi in Bugzilla before 2.14.1 allows a user with "Bugs Access" privileges to see other products that are not accessible to the user, by submitting a bug and reading the resulting Product pulldown menu.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/24/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-0009 represents a critical access control flaw within the Bugzilla bug tracking system prior to version 2.14.1. This issue specifically affects the show_bug.cgi script which handles the display of bug reports and related interface elements. The flaw stems from insufficient authorization checks during the rendering of product selection menus, allowing unauthorized users to discover and potentially access products they should not be permitted to view based on their assigned privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when a user with "Bugs Access" privileges submits a new bug report and subsequently examines the resulting Product pulldown menu. The system fails to properly filter the product list based on the user's actual access permissions, thereby exposing all available products in the system regardless of whether the user has legitimate access rights to view them. This represents a classic information disclosure vulnerability where sensitive system data is revealed through improper access controls.
This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of the Bugzilla system by enabling unauthorized information discovery. Attackers can exploit this flaw to map the complete product landscape of a bug tracking system, potentially identifying sensitive projects, proprietary software, or confidential business applications that should remain hidden from unauthorized personnel. The exposure of product information can lead to further exploitation attempts, as attackers may use this knowledge to target specific products or identify system configurations that could be leveraged for additional attacks.
The operational impact extends beyond simple information disclosure, as this vulnerability undermines the fundamental security model of Bugzilla's access control system. Organizations relying on Bugzilla for software development and bug tracking may experience unauthorized access to sensitive project information, potentially leading to competitive intelligence theft or security breaches. The vulnerability affects the system's ability to maintain proper access boundaries between different user groups and product categories, creating a pathway for privilege escalation and unauthorized system exploration.
Security professionals should note this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and represents a failure in implementing proper authorization checks during user interface rendering. The flaw demonstrates the importance of validating access permissions at every point where system data is presented to users, particularly in dynamic interface elements such as dropdown menus and selection lists. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to Bugzilla version 2.14.1 or later, which contains the necessary access control fixes. Additionally, security teams should review and strengthen access control policies, ensuring that all user interface elements properly validate user permissions and that product visibility is strictly controlled based on defined access levels.
The remediation approach should involve comprehensive testing of access control mechanisms, particularly focusing on interface elements that dynamically populate based on user context. System administrators should conduct regular audits of user access rights and ensure that product visibility controls are properly enforced throughout the application. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of implementing defense-in-depth security measures and the necessity of thorough access control validation in web-based applications that handle sensitive data. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring and logging of access patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain audit trails of system access.