CVE-2011-1689 in Best Practical
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Best Practical Solutions RT 2.0.0 through 3.6.10, 3.8.0 through 3.8.9, and 4.0.0rc through 4.0.0rc7 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/05/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1689 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting the RT (Request Tracker) ticketing system developed by Best Practical Solutions. This vulnerability spans multiple versions of the software including the 2.0.0 through 3.6.10 series, the 3.8.0 through 3.8.9 releases, and the 4.0.0rc through 4.0.0rc7 development versions. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected users' browsers, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on this ticketing solution.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the RT application. Attackers can exploit unspecified vectors to inject malicious code that gets executed when legitimate users view affected pages. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in software applications. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can be leveraged to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, or perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users within the RT system.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-1689 is substantial for organizations using affected RT versions, as it creates an attack surface that can be exploited by threat actors without requiring authentication. When exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate the application behavior and potentially gain access to sensitive data or system resources. The presence of this vulnerability in multiple version ranges indicates a persistent flaw in the application's security architecture that was not adequately addressed during the software development lifecycle. Organizations may experience unauthorized access to support tickets, user credentials, or other sensitive information stored within the RT environment.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected RT installations to the latest stable versions that contain security fixes. System administrators should implement proper input validation mechanisms and output encoding to prevent script injection attempts. Network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect and alert on suspicious traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing content security policies and web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments of their RT deployments to identify any potential exploitation vectors and ensure proper access controls are in place to limit the impact of any successful attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current security patches and implementing comprehensive security testing procedures as outlined in the mitre attack framework where such persistent flaws can be exploited across multiple attack phases.