CVE-2010-2574 in MantisBT
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in manage_proj_cat_add.php in MantisBT 1.2.2 allows remote authenticated administrators to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the name parameter in an Add Category action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2574 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the MantisBT issue tracking system version 1.2.2. This vulnerability specifically affects the manage_proj_cat_add.php component which handles category management operations for projects within the system. The flaw exists in the way the application processes user input when adding new categories, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of authenticated administrator sessions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to possess valid administrator credentials within the MantisBT system, as the vulnerability is limited to authenticated users. The flaw manifests through the name parameter in the Add Category action, where user-supplied input is not properly sanitized or validated before being rendered back to the browser. This parameter injection allows an attacker to embed malicious scripts that will execute in the browser context of other administrators who view the affected category listings. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically representing a stored XSS variant where the malicious payload is persisted within the application's database and executed whenever the affected page is accessed.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to organizations relying on MantisBT for issue tracking and project management. An authenticated administrator with malicious intent could inject scripts that steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or perform unauthorized actions within the application on behalf of other administrators. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it leverages the elevated privileges of administrators, potentially allowing for complete compromise of the issue tracking system and access to sensitive project data, user information, and system configurations. The vulnerability could also facilitate further attacks within the network by using stolen administrator credentials to access other systems or escalate privileges.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patch for MantisBT version 1.2.2, which addresses the input validation flaw in the category management component. Additionally, implementing proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms within the application code can prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other components. Network segmentation and monitoring of administrator activities can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell, though the primary attack surface is through web-based scripting rather than command-line interfaces. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar input validation weaknesses in other web applications. The incident underscores the importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices as outlined in OWASP Top Ten security principles, particularly addressing the critical need for sanitizing all user inputs before processing or rendering within web applications.