CVE-2008-6098 in Bugzilla
Summary
by MITRE
Bugzilla 3.2 before 3.2 RC2, 3.0 before 3.0.6, 2.22 before 2.22.6, 2.20 before 2.20.7, and other versions after 2.17.4 allows remote authenticated users to bypass moderation to approve and disapprove quips via a direct request to quips.cgi with the action parameter set to "approve."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/21/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-6098 represents a critical access control flaw in the Bugzilla bug tracking system that affects multiple version ranges including 3.2 before 3.2 RC2, 3.0 before 3.0.6, 2.22 before 2.22.6, and 2.20 before 2.20.7. This issue stems from insufficient authorization checks within the quips.cgi script, which is responsible for managing user-submitted quips or quotes within the Bugzilla interface. The flaw allows authenticated users to bypass intended moderation workflows by directly manipulating the action parameter in their HTTP requests to the quips.cgi endpoint.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the absence of proper permission validation when processing requests to the quips.cgi script. When users submit quips for approval, the system typically requires moderation by authorized administrators or moderators. However, the flaw enables any authenticated user to directly invoke the approval or disapproval actions by simply crafting a request with the action parameter set to "approve" or "disapprove" respectively. This represents a classic example of insecure direct object reference vulnerability where the application fails to verify that the requesting user has the appropriate privileges to perform the requested action. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-285, which addresses insufficient authorization in software applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for valid accounts and privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it undermines the moderation controls that are essential for maintaining quality and appropriateness of user-generated content within the Bugzilla system. Attackers could potentially approve inappropriate or malicious content without proper review, while also having the ability to remove legitimate quips from the system. This creates a potential vector for content manipulation and could be exploited to deface the Bugzilla interface or introduce spam content. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on Bugzilla for project management and issue tracking, where maintaining content integrity and proper moderation is crucial for operational security and maintaining the credibility of the system.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately apply the relevant patches released by the Bugzilla project for their specific version ranges. The recommended mitigation strategy involves implementing proper input validation and access control checks within the quips.cgi script to ensure that only authorized users with appropriate privileges can approve or disapprove quips. Additionally, administrators should review and enforce proper user role assignments to ensure that moderation privileges are restricted to legitimate moderators or administrators. Network segmentation and monitoring of unusual requests to quips.cgi endpoints can provide additional detection capabilities for potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of implementing defense-in-depth strategies and proper access control mechanisms to prevent unauthorized privilege escalation in web applications.