CVE-2010-5108 in Trac
Summary
by MITRE
Trac 0.11.6 does not properly check workflow permissions before modifying a ticket. This can be exploited by an attacker to change the status and resolution of tickets without having proper permissions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/13/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-5108 resides within Trac version 0.11.6, a widely used open source project management and bug tracking system. This flaw represents a critical authorization bypass issue that fundamentally undermines the security controls designed to protect ticket integrity within the system. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user permissions during workflow operations, creating a pathway for unauthorized modifications to critical ticket attributes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a failure in the access control mechanisms that should govern ticket modifications within Trac's workflow system. When users attempt to modify ticket status or resolution fields, the application should verify that the requesting user possesses the appropriate permissions based on their role within the project. However, in version 0.11.6, this permission checking mechanism is bypassed, allowing malicious actors to manipulate ticket states regardless of their assigned privileges. This flaw operates at the application logic level and directly violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and access control enforcement.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-5108 extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables attackers to manipulate project tracking data in ways that can significantly disrupt development workflows and compromise project integrity. An attacker could elevate ticket statuses from 'new' to 'closed' without proper authorization, potentially hiding critical issues from the development team. Additionally, the ability to modify resolution fields allows for false reporting of bug fixes or issues that were never actually addressed, creating misleading project metrics and potentially masking security vulnerabilities or functional defects. This manipulation capability directly impacts project management decisions and can lead to serious downstream consequences including delayed bug fixes, incorrect release planning, and compromised software quality assurance processes.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and represents a classic example of privilege escalation through inadequate authorization checks. The flaw also intersects with ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and defense evasion, as attackers can manipulate system data without detection while maintaining their original access level. Organizations utilizing Trac for project management and bug tracking face significant risk from this vulnerability, as it enables persistent manipulation of critical project data that could go unnoticed for extended periods. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal skill and provides substantial impact, making it particularly dangerous in environments where Trac serves as the primary tracking system for software development and security issue management. Mitigation efforts should focus on immediate patching to version 0.11.7 or later, which contains the necessary permission validation fixes, alongside implementing additional monitoring for unauthorized ticket modifications and establishing proper access control reviews to ensure that user permissions align with their actual project responsibilities.