CVE-2009-0485 in Bugzilla
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in Bugzilla 2.17 to 2.22.7, 3.0 before 3.0.7, 3.2 before 3.2.1, and 3.3 before 3.3.2 allows remote attackers to delete unused flag types via a link or IMG tag to editflagtypes.cgi.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/31/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-0485 represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw affecting multiple versions of the Bugzilla bug tracking system. This CSRF vulnerability exists in versions ranging from 2.17 through 2.22.7, 3.0 prior to 3.0.7, 3.2 prior to 3.2.1, and 3.3 prior to 3.3.2, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on these older versions. The flaw specifically impacts the editflagtypes.cgi component of Bugzilla, which handles the management of flag types within the system. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows remote attackers to manipulate the system's flag type configuration without proper authentication, potentially leading to unauthorized modifications of critical system parameters.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the lack of proper anti-CSRF measures within the Bugzilla application's flag type management functionality. When users visit web pages containing malicious links or embedded image tags that point to the editflagtypes.cgi script, the system processes these requests without verifying the authenticity of the request source. This occurs because the application does not implement token-based validation or referer checking mechanisms that would normally prevent unauthorized actions from being executed on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability specifically enables attackers to delete unused flag types, which can disrupt system operations and potentially create security gaps in the bug tracking workflow. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it can be delivered through simple HTML links or IMG tags, making it easily exploitable through social engineering techniques or compromised web pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data modification, as the deletion of flag types can severely disrupt bug tracking workflows within organizations. Flag types in Bugzilla are essential components that define how bugs are categorized and tracked, with different flag types representing various states such as review status, priority levels, or resolution categories. When attackers successfully delete these flag types, they can compromise the integrity of the entire bug tracking system, potentially causing workflows to break or creating confusion in bug reporting processes. The vulnerability also represents a potential escalation path for attackers who may use the deletion of flag types as a precursor to more serious attacks, such as creating malicious flag types that could be used to manipulate bug reports or gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery flaws in web applications.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations to protect their Bugzilla installations. The most effective approach involves upgrading to patched versions of Bugzilla that include proper CSRF protection mechanisms, particularly for the editflagtypes.cgi script. The recommended solution includes implementing anti-CSRF tokens that are validated before any flag type modifications are processed, ensuring that requests originate from legitimate user sessions within the application. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing referer header validation and session-based request verification to prevent unauthorized modifications. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and following the ATT&CK framework's guidance on web application security, particularly in areas related to privilege escalation and credential exposure. Organizations should also conduct thorough security audits of their Bugzilla installations to identify any other potential CSRF vulnerabilities in related components and ensure that all users are properly authenticated before any administrative actions are permitted. The vulnerability highlights the critical need for robust input validation and request verification mechanisms in web applications, as outlined in various security standards and best practices established by security frameworks including OWASP and NIST guidelines.