CVE-2002-1196 in Bugzilla
Summary
by MITRE
editproducts.cgi in Bugzilla 2.14.x before 2.14.4, and 2.16.x before 2.16.1, when the "usebuggroups" feature is enabled and more than 47 groups are specified, does not properly calculate bit values for large numbers, which grants extra permissions to users via known features of Perl math that set multiple bits.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/07/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-1196 represents a critical access control flaw within the Bugzilla bug tracking system that affects versions 2.14.x prior to 2.14.4 and 2.16.x prior to 2.16.1. This issue specifically manifests when the "usebuggroups" feature is enabled and the system manages more than 47 groups, creating a scenario where improper bit value calculations lead to unintended privilege escalation. The vulnerability stems from the underlying Perl mathematical operations that handle large number representations and their corresponding bit manipulations within the editproducts.cgi script.
The technical flaw occurs due to Perl's handling of large integers and bitwise operations, where the system fails to properly calculate bit values for numbers exceeding certain thresholds. When more than 47 groups are specified, the bit calculation mechanism becomes compromised, causing multiple bits to be set simultaneously in unintended ways. This misconfiguration results in a situation where users may gain additional permissions beyond their intended access levels, effectively bypassing the normal group-based permission controls that should restrict user capabilities within the bug tracking environment. The vulnerability is classified as a CWE-129 vulnerability, representing an improper input validation that allows for unexpected behavior in bit manipulation operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows malicious users to escalate their privileges within the Bugzilla system, potentially gaining access to sensitive bug reports, administrative functions, or other restricted areas that should only be accessible to authorized personnel. This privilege escalation capability can lead to unauthorized data modification, information disclosure, or complete system compromise depending on the specific permissions granted through the flawed bit calculations. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security model of Bugzilla's group-based access control system, undermining the integrity of user permissions and potentially exposing confidential information to unauthorized parties.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability involves upgrading to Bugzilla versions 2.14.4 or 2.16.1, which contain the necessary patches to properly handle bit value calculations for large numbers. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as monitoring user access patterns, restricting direct access to vulnerable scripts, and ensuring that the usebuggroups feature is not enabled unless absolutely necessary. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and can be categorized under T1068, which involves exploiting vulnerabilities to gain higher privileges. Organizations should also implement proper input validation controls and conduct regular security assessments to identify similar bit manipulation issues in other legacy systems that may be susceptible to the same class of vulnerabilities.