CVE-2003-0602 in Bugzilla
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting vulnerabilities (XSS) in Bugzilla 2.16.x before 2.16.3 and 2.17.x before 2.17.4 allow remote attackers to insert arbitrary HTML or web script via (1) multiple default German and Russian HTML templates or (2) ALT and NAME attributes in AREA tags as used by the GraphViz graph generation feature for local dependency graphs.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2003-0602 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Bugzilla versions 2.16.x prior to 2.16.3 and 2.17.x prior to 2.17.4. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web application's template processing system, specifically targeting the default German and Russian HTML templates that were susceptible to malicious code injection. The flaw manifests when user-supplied data is not properly sanitized before being rendered in web pages, creating opportunities for attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through two distinct attack vectors that leverage different components of the Bugzilla application. The first vector targets the default German and Russian HTML templates where insufficient sanitization allows attackers to inject malicious HTML or JavaScript code directly into template files. The second vector exploits the GraphViz graph generation feature, specifically targeting the ALT and NAME attributes within AREA tags that are used for creating local dependency graphs. This attack method demonstrates a classic XSS vulnerability pattern where untrusted data flows through the application's processing pipeline without proper validation, enabling the execution of malicious scripts in victim browsers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can lead to complete session hijacking, data theft, and privilege escalation within the Bugzilla environment. Attackers can leverage these XSS flaws to steal cookies, session tokens, and other sensitive information from authenticated users, potentially gaining unauthorized access to bug tracking data and system resources. The vulnerability affects not only individual users but also the integrity of the entire bug tracking system, as malicious actors can manipulate the displayed information and potentially compromise the trustworthiness of the application's output. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Bugzilla serves as a critical collaboration platform for software development teams.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, beginning with immediate patching of affected Bugzilla versions to the recommended secure releases. Input validation mechanisms must be strengthened to properly sanitize all user-supplied data before rendering in web templates, with particular attention to HTML attributes and graph generation features. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and proper output encoding techniques can provide additional protection against XSS attacks. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which describes cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566 for the initial compromise through malicious web content. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments of their Bugzilla installations to identify any other potential XSS vulnerabilities and ensure that all template processing components properly validate and sanitize user input before rendering web content.