CVE-2004-2563 in Teamtrack
Summary
by MITRE
Serena TeamTrack 6.1.1 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information such as user names, versions, and database information, and conduct cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks, via a direct request to tmtrack.dll with modified LoginPage and Template parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2563 affects Serena TeamTrack version 6.1.1, a collaborative software development environment designed for requirements management and issue tracking. This security flaw represents a critical weakness in the application's input validation mechanisms, specifically within the tmtrack.dll component that handles user authentication and template processing. The vulnerability arises from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied parameters, particularly the LoginPage and Template parameters, which are directly processed without proper validation or encoding controls. This oversight creates multiple attack vectors that can be exploited by remote threat actors to compromise the system's security posture and potentially escalate privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly validate and sanitize input parameters before processing them within the web application context. When attackers submit specially crafted requests containing modified LoginPage and Template parameters to the tmtrack.dll endpoint, the system processes these inputs without adequate security controls. This lack of input sanitization enables attackers to inject malicious content that can be executed in the context of other users' browsers, facilitating cross-site scripting attacks. The vulnerability also exposes sensitive system information including user credentials, system versions, and database configuration details through direct information disclosure mechanisms. According to the CWE classification system, this vulnerability maps to CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to properly encode or escape user-controllable data before including it in web page output. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a technique involving Web Application Security Weaknesses under the T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application tactic.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the foundation for more sophisticated attacks. The exposure of user names and system versions enables threat actors to conduct targeted reconnaissance activities, potentially identifying additional vulnerabilities specific to the discovered software versions. The cross-site scripting capability allows attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of authenticated users, which could lead to session hijacking, privilege escalation, or data exfiltration. Database information disclosure poses significant risks to the overall system integrity, as it may reveal database schema structures, connection parameters, and other sensitive infrastructure details. The remote exploitation nature of this vulnerability means that attackers can leverage it without requiring physical access to the system or local network presence, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where such applications are publicly accessible.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding controls throughout the application stack. Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided patches or upgrades that address the specific input sanitization flaws in the tmtrack.dll component. The implementation of proper parameter validation should include strict input filtering that rejects or sanitizes potentially malicious content before processing. Web application firewalls and security monitoring systems should be configured to detect and block suspicious parameter variations targeting the affected endpoints. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications within the organization. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and least privilege principles can help limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, while regular security training for developers can prevent similar issues in future application development cycles. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to web application security standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten project to prevent similar weaknesses from being introduced into software applications.