CVE-2007-1788 in Flyspray
Summary
by MITRE
Flyspray 0.9.9, when output_buffering is disabled or "set to a low value," allows remote attackers to bypass authentication via a crafted post request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/26/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-1788 affects Flyspray version 0.9.9 and represents a critical authentication bypass flaw that exploits the application's handling of HTTP POST requests when PHP's output buffering mechanism is either disabled or configured with a low buffer size. This issue resides within the core authentication logic of the bug tracking system, where improper request processing allows malicious actors to circumvent the normal login procedures and gain unauthorized access to the application's administrative and user functionalities.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly validate and sanitize incoming POST data when output buffering is not functioning as expected. When output_buffering is disabled or set to a low value, the PHP runtime processes output immediately rather than buffering it, which creates a window where crafted malicious requests can manipulate the authentication flow. The flaw specifically occurs during the processing of authentication credentials where the system does not adequately verify the integrity of the submitted data, allowing attackers to inject specially crafted parameters that bypass the normal authentication checks.
This vulnerability has significant operational impact as it enables remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to the Flyspray bug tracking system without proper credentials. The authentication bypass allows attackers to perform administrative functions, modify project data, view sensitive information, and potentially escalate privileges within the application. The attack vector requires only a remote network connection and the ability to send crafted HTTP POST requests, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the system or prior knowledge of valid credentials.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1110.003 for credential access through brute force or exploitation of authentication mechanisms. Organizations running affected versions of Flyspray face substantial risk of data compromise, unauthorized modifications to bug reports and project information, and potential use of the system as a platform for further attacks. The low complexity of exploitation combined with the high impact of successful compromise makes this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations relying on unpatched versions of the software.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of the Flyspray application to version 0.9.10 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the authentication bypass issue. System administrators should also consider implementing network-level restrictions such as firewall rules that limit access to the Flyspray application to trusted IP addresses only. Additionally, monitoring for suspicious authentication attempts and implementing proper input validation mechanisms can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The configuration of PHP output buffering should be reviewed to ensure appropriate buffer sizes are set, and organizations should implement regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications.