CVE-2010-4348 in MantisBT
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in admin/upgrade_unattended.php in MantisBT before 1.2.4 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the db_type parameter, related to an unsafe call by MantisBT to a function in the ADOdb Library for PHP.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/21/2025
The CVE-2010-4348 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in MantisBT version 1.2.3 and earlier, specifically within the admin/upgrade_unattended.php file. This vulnerability arises from an unsafe interaction between MantisBT and the ADOdb Library for PHP, creating an exploitable condition that allows remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected systems. The flaw manifests when the db_type parameter is manipulated during the upgrade process, enabling attackers to inject persistent malicious content that can be executed by other users who access the vulnerable administrative interface.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and output encoding within the upgrade_unattended.php script. When MantisBT processes the db_type parameter, it fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamic web content. This unsafe practice directly violates the principles outlined in CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities where untrusted data is embedded into web pages without proper validation or encoding. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it occurs within the administrative upgrade functionality, which typically requires elevated privileges and represents a critical attack surface for malicious actors seeking to compromise the entire system.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-4348 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can be leveraged to execute arbitrary commands, steal user sessions, or redirect victims to malicious websites. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to perform session hijacking, deface web interfaces, or establish persistent backdoors within the MantisBT environment. The fact that this vulnerability exists in the upgrade process makes it particularly dangerous because it could be exploited during system maintenance or updates, when administrators might be less vigilant about monitoring for malicious activity. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as the vulnerability enables attackers to execute malicious scripts within the web application context.
Organizations running affected versions of MantisBT face significant risk from this vulnerability, as it can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication or specialized access. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it targets the administrative upgrade functionality, which is often accessible to users with varying privilege levels. Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching to version 1.2.4 or later, where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Additionally, organizations should implement web application firewall rules to detect and block suspicious db_type parameter values, conduct regular security assessments of web applications, and ensure that upgrade processes are properly secured with appropriate access controls. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of secure coding practices and the need for thorough input validation when integrating third-party libraries such as ADOdb, as highlighted in the OWASP Top Ten security principles for preventing XSS attacks.