CVE-2005-4522 in Mantis
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the view_filters_page.php filters script in Mantis 1.0.0rc3 and earlier allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) view_type and (2) target_field parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-4522 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting the Mantis bug tracking system version 1.0.0rc3 and earlier. This vulnerability resides within the view_filters_page.php script which handles filter display functionality for the application's user interface. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input parameters, specifically the view_type and target_field parameters, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts within the context of authenticated user sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is incorporated into web page content without proper validation or encoding. The vulnerability occurs because the application does not implement adequate input sanitization or output encoding mechanisms for the parameters passed to the view_filters_page.php script. When attackers manipulate the view_type and target_field parameters through HTTP requests, the application directly incorporates these values into HTML output without sufficient sanitization, allowing malicious script code to be executed in the victim's browser.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations utilizing the affected Mantis versions. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to inject malicious scripts that can steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The impact extends beyond simple script injection as it can enable more sophisticated attacks such as session hijacking, data exfiltration, or even privilege escalation within the application. Given that Mantis is typically used for managing sensitive project information and bug tracking, the potential for data compromise increases substantially when attackers can execute code in user contexts.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal prerequisites as it operates entirely through web-based attacks without requiring special privileges or access to the underlying system. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing script payloads in the view_type and target_field parameters, which when visited by authenticated users, execute the injected code in their browsers. The vulnerability affects the entire user base that accesses the affected Mantis installation, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users interact with the system. Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability represents a classic example of insecure input handling that violates fundamental web security principles and demonstrates the importance of implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-4522 should include immediate patching of the affected Mantis versions to the latest stable releases where the XSS vulnerabilities have been addressed. Organizations should also implement proper input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied parameters in web applications, following established security guidelines such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls may provide additional defense-in-depth, though they should not be considered a replacement for proper application-level fixes. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, as this type of flaw often indicates broader security weaknesses in the development practices. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing comprehensive security testing procedures to prevent similar issues from arising in the future.