CVE-2002-0806 in Bugzilla
Summary
by MITRE
Bugzilla 2.14 before 2.14.2, and 2.16 before 2.16rc2, allows authenticated users with editing privileges to delete other users by directly calling the editusers.cgi script with the "del" option.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/22/2019
This vulnerability exists in Bugzilla versions 2.14 before 2.14.2 and 2.16 before 2.16rc2 where authenticated users with editing privileges can exploit a direct script call to delete other users from the system. The flaw resides in the editusers.cgi script which lacks proper access controls and input validation mechanisms. When users with editing privileges make direct calls to this script with the "del" parameter, they bypass normal user interface restrictions that would typically prevent such destructive operations. This represents a classic privilege escalation vulnerability where users can perform actions beyond their intended permissions. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-284 Access Control, specifically related to insufficient access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized operations. From an operational perspective, this flaw enables malicious or compromised users with editing privileges to completely remove other users from the Bugzilla system, potentially disrupting collaboration and access control. The impact extends beyond simple user deletion as it can be used to eliminate audit trails, remove key personnel from the system, or create false access logs. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 Valid Accounts, where attackers leverage legitimate user accounts with sufficient privileges to perform unauthorized actions. The security implications are particularly concerning in environments where Bugzilla serves as a critical issue tracking and collaboration platform, as user deletion can compromise system integrity and audit capabilities.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an authenticated user with editing privileges who can directly access the editusers.cgi script through HTTP requests. This direct access bypasses the normal user interface validation that would typically prevent destructive operations, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous. The script does not perform adequate input sanitization or permission verification before executing deletion operations, allowing attackers to pass arbitrary user identifiers for deletion. This represents a failure in the principle of least privilege where the system does not properly validate that the user performing the deletion has appropriate authorization to remove the target user. The vulnerability is exacerbated by the fact that the editusers.cgi script operates without proper session validation or cross-site request forgery protection, making it susceptible to exploitation even when users are authenticated through other means. From a security architecture standpoint, this flaw demonstrates poor separation of concerns where administrative operations are not properly isolated from regular user operations. The lack of proper access control checks in the script means that any user with editing privileges can potentially delete other users, regardless of their relationship or role within the organization. This vulnerability also indicates a broader issue with how the application handles privilege levels and administrative functions.
Organizations using affected Bugzilla versions should immediately implement mitigations to address this vulnerability. The primary recommendation is to upgrade to Bugzilla 2.14.2 or 2.16rc2, which contain patches specifically addressing this access control flaw. Until an upgrade is possible, administrators should consider implementing additional access controls at the web server level to restrict direct access to the editusers.cgi script. Network-level restrictions can be implemented through firewall rules or web application firewalls to prevent direct script execution. The system should also enforce stricter session validation and implement proper input filtering for all parameters passed to administrative scripts. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns of user deletion activities, as these operations should be rare and typically require explicit administrative approval. Organizations should also review their user privilege assignments to ensure that only trusted administrators have editing privileges that could potentially be exploited. Regular security audits should verify that access controls are properly enforced and that no unauthorized modifications have occurred to the application scripts. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of proper access control implementation and the need for regular security assessments of web applications. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce regressions in legitimate functionality while properly addressing the access control weakness. Additionally, security awareness training for administrators should emphasize the importance of proper privilege management and the risks associated with granting excessive permissions to users.