CVE-2011-1518 in OTRS
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Open Ticket Request System (OTRS) 2.4.x before 2.4.10 and 3.x before 3.0.7 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/24/2025
The Open Ticket Request System OTRS vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1518 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting versions 2.4.x prior to 2.4.10 and 3.x prior to 3.0.7. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security weakness that enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability exists within the core ticketing system architecture that processes user inputs and displays them without proper sanitization or encoding mechanisms, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors.
The technical flaw manifests through unspecified vectors that likely involve the improper handling of user-supplied data within the OTRS application's input processing pipeline. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content through various input fields, form submissions, or URL parameters that are not adequately validated or escaped before being rendered in web responses. This allows for the execution of malicious code within the context of the victim's browser session, potentially enabling session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-1518 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can lead to complete compromise of user sessions and unauthorized access to sensitive ticketing data. Given that OTRS systems typically handle confidential customer information, support requests, and business-critical communications, successful exploitation could result in data breaches, unauthorized system access, and potential regulatory compliance violations. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the ticketing system, making it particularly dangerous for organizations relying on these platforms for customer service operations and internal communications.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the official patches released by OTRS for versions 2.4.10 and 3.0.7, which contain the necessary input validation and output encoding fixes. Additionally, network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection while awaiting patch deployment. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious inputs, and T1059.001 for command and control through script execution. Security monitoring should focus on identifying unusual user behavior patterns and unexpected script execution within the application environment, as this vulnerability represents a persistent threat that can be exploited repeatedly until proper patching occurs.