CVE-2002-1115 in Mantis
Summary
by MITRE
Mantis 0.17.4a and earlier allows remote attackers to view private bugs by modifying the f_id bug ID parameter to (1) bug_update_advanced_page.php, (2) bug_update_page.php, (3) view_bug_advanced_page.php, or (4) view_bug_page.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/24/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-1115 represents a critical access control flaw in the Mantis bug tracking system version 0.17.4a and earlier. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and authorization checks within the application's web interface, specifically affecting four key PHP pages that handle bug viewing and updating operations. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to bypass intended security restrictions by manipulating the f_id parameter, which serves as the bug identifier in the application's URL structure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through parameter tampering within the web application's request handling mechanism. When users access bug tracking pages, the application relies on the f_id parameter to determine which bug records to display or modify. However, the system fails to properly verify whether the authenticated user has appropriate permissions to access the specified bug record. This flaw exists because the application does not perform adequate authorization checks before rendering pages or processing updates for bug records. The vulnerability affects multiple pages including bug_update_advanced_page.php, bug_update_page.php, view_bug_advanced_page.php, and view_bug_page.php, indicating a systemic issue in the application's access control implementation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows unauthorized users to gain access to private bug reports that should only be visible to authorized personnel within the organization. This exposure can lead to significant security implications including the disclosure of sensitive information about software vulnerabilities, system weaknesses, and potentially confidential business data. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to view confidential bug reports, potentially including details about security flaws in the software being tracked, which could be used for further attacks against the target organization. The vulnerability affects both the confidentiality and integrity aspects of the information security triad, as unauthorized access to private information undermines the organization's ability to maintain control over sensitive data.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems, and can be classified under the ATT&CK technique T1078 for Valid Accounts and T1566 for Phishing. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to a patched version of Mantis, implementing proper input validation for all parameters, and ensuring robust authorization checks on all pages that handle bug data. Additional defensive measures include implementing network segmentation, monitoring access logs for suspicious parameter manipulation attempts, and conducting regular security audits of web applications to identify similar authorization flaws. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper access control implementation in web applications and serves as a reminder of the critical need to validate all user inputs and enforce authorization checks at every layer of application processing.