CVE-2004-1633 in Bugzilla
Summary
by MITRE
process_bug.cgi in Bugzilla 2.9 through 2.18rc2 and 2.19 from CVS does not check edit permissions on the keywords field, which allows remote authenticated users to modify the keywords in a bug via the keywordaction parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-1633 represents a critical access control flaw in the Bugzilla bug tracking system that affected versions ranging from 2.9 through 2.18rc2 and the 2.19 CVS snapshot. This issue resides within the process_bug.cgi script which serves as a core component for handling bug modifications within the Bugzilla framework. The flaw specifically targets the keywords field functionality, where the system fails to properly validate user permissions before allowing modifications to be applied. This represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a fundamental breakdown in the application's authorization mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of proper permission checking when processing the keywordaction parameter within the bug modification workflow. When authenticated users submit requests to modify bug keywords through the web interface, the system accepts the keywordaction parameter without verifying whether the requesting user possesses the necessary privileges to alter this specific field. This oversight creates a pathway for unauthorized modifications where malicious actors can manipulate the keywords associated with bug reports. The vulnerability operates at the application logic level and constitutes a classic case of insufficient authorization checks, which aligns with CWE-285, specifically addressing improper authorization within software systems.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to software development environments that rely on Bugzilla for issue tracking and management. Attackers who gain authenticated access to the system can exploit this weakness to manipulate bug classifications, potentially altering the priority, severity, or categorization of reported issues. This modification capability can be leveraged for various malicious purposes including the obfuscation of security issues, manipulation of bug tracking statistics, or the introduction of misleading information that could impact development decisions. The impact extends beyond simple data modification as it can compromise the integrity of the entire bug tracking process and undermine trust in the system's data accuracy.
The vulnerability's exploitation requires only authenticated access to the Bugzilla system, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by insiders or compromised users with legitimate access rights. This scenario aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers credential access and privilege escalation methods. Organizations using affected versions of Bugzilla should immediately implement mitigations including updating to patched versions, implementing additional access controls, and conducting thorough audits of bug tracking data integrity. The fix typically involves adding proper permission validation checks for the keywords field before processing any modifications through the keywordaction parameter, ensuring that only users with appropriate administrative or modification privileges can alter these critical bug attributes.