CVE-2008-7281 in OTRS
Summary
by MITRE
Open Ticket Request System (OTRS) before 2.2.7 sends e-mail containing a Bcc header field that lists the Blind Carbon Copy recipients, which allows remote attackers to obtain potentially sensitive e-mail address information by reading this field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/19/2021
The Open Ticket Request System OTRS vulnerability CVE-2008-7281 represents a critical information disclosure flaw that emerged in versions prior to 2.2.7. This vulnerability specifically targets the email handling mechanisms within the system, where the application fails to properly sanitize email headers when processing ticket-related communications. The flaw manifests when the system generates automated email notifications containing a Bcc (Blind Carbon Copy) header field that explicitly lists the email addresses of recipients who should remain hidden from other participants in the communication. This behavior directly violates fundamental email security principles and exposes sensitive recipient information to unauthorized parties who can access the email headers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper email header construction within the OTRS application's email processing pipeline. When the system sends automated notifications or updates related to ticket management, it includes a Bcc field in the email headers that contains the actual email addresses of recipients. This occurs because the application does not properly separate the internal recipient list from the email header fields, creating a scenario where the Bcc recipients are visible in the email metadata rather than being properly handled by the email client or server. The vulnerability falls under CWE-200 - Information Exposure and specifically relates to improper handling of email headers and recipient information. From an operational perspective, this flaw enables attackers to harvest email addresses from system-generated notifications, potentially compromising user privacy and enabling social engineering attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-7281 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates opportunities for targeted attacks against system users. Attackers can systematically collect email addresses from OTRS-generated emails, building comprehensive contact lists that could be used for phishing campaigns, spam distribution, or further reconnaissance activities. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations using OTRS for customer support or internal ticket management, where the email addresses of customers, employees, or stakeholders may be exposed through these email headers. This exposure can lead to privacy violations, increased attack surface for social engineering, and potential compliance issues with data protection regulations. The flaw demonstrates a critical failure in the principle of least privilege and proper access control within the email handling components of the application.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately upgrade to OTRS version 2.2.7 or later, which includes proper email header sanitization and recipient handling mechanisms. The mitigation strategy should also include implementing email header filtering at the network level to prevent unauthorized disclosure of Bcc recipients, though this represents a secondary measure rather than a complete solution. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of email handling processes within their applications to identify similar vulnerabilities, particularly in systems that process user data through automated notifications. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices for email handling, including proper header construction, recipient separation, and access control mechanisms. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing email monitoring and alerting systems to detect unusual patterns in email header information that might indicate similar disclosure vulnerabilities. This incident serves as a reminder of the critical importance of email security in web applications and the potential consequences of inadequate header handling in information disclosure scenarios.