CVE-2011-2978 in Bugzilla
Summary
by MITRE
Bugzilla 2.16rc1 through 2.22.7, 3.0.x through 3.3.x, 3.4.x before 3.4.12, 3.5.x, 3.6.x before 3.6.6, 3.7.x, 4.0.x before 4.0.2, and 4.1.x before 4.1.3 does not prevent changes to the confirmation e-mail address (aka old_email field) for e-mail change notifications, which makes it easier for remote attackers to perform arbitrary address changes by leveraging an unattended workstation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/17/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2011-2978 affects multiple versions of the Bugzilla bug tracking system, specifically ranging from version 2.16rc1 through 2.22.7, 3.0.x through 3.3.x, 3.4.x before 3.4.12, 3.5.x, 3.6.x before 3.6.6, 3.7.x, 4.0.x before 4.0.2, and 4.1.x before 4.1.3. This flaw resides in the email address change notification mechanism of the system, creating a significant security weakness that could be exploited by remote attackers. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-284 Access Control, which specifically addresses improper access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized users to modify system resources. The flaw enables attackers to manipulate the old_email field during email change notifications, effectively bypassing the intended security controls that should prevent unauthorized address modifications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation and access control mechanisms within Bugzilla's email change notification process. When users attempt to change their email addresses within the system, the application should enforce strict verification procedures to ensure that only legitimate users can make such modifications. However, the flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate the confirmation email address field, which should normally be protected from unauthorized changes. This weakness is particularly concerning because it operates without requiring authentication or authorization from the legitimate user, making it possible for an attacker to intercept or manipulate the email change process. The vulnerability essentially creates a race condition or timing attack vector where an attacker can modify the old_email field to point to their own email address, potentially gaining unauthorized access to the target account.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple email address changes and creates a broader security risk for Bugzilla deployments. An attacker leveraging this vulnerability can potentially take over user accounts by redirecting email notifications to their own email addresses, thereby gaining access to sensitive bug reports, system notifications, and other confidential information. This attack vector is particularly dangerous when users are working at unattended workstations, as the attacker could exploit the vulnerability without requiring physical access to the target system. The attack scenario involves the attacker intercepting email change requests and modifying the old_email field to redirect notifications to their own email address, effectively creating a backdoor into the target account. This vulnerability directly relates to ATT&CK technique T1566 Phishing, where attackers can manipulate email systems to redirect communications to their own addresses, and T1078 Valid Accounts, as the attacker could potentially gain persistent access to legitimate user accounts.
The implications of this vulnerability are particularly severe for organizations that rely heavily on Bugzilla for software development and bug tracking processes. The ability to modify email addresses without proper authorization creates potential for data exfiltration, system compromise, and unauthorized access to sensitive development information. Organizations using affected versions of Bugzilla should immediately implement mitigations including updating to patched versions, implementing additional email verification mechanisms, and monitoring for unauthorized email address changes. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control implementation in web applications and highlights the necessity of validating all user inputs and protecting sensitive fields from unauthorized modification. Security administrators should also consider implementing additional layers of authentication and verification for email change requests, as well as monitoring for suspicious patterns in email address modifications that could indicate exploitation attempts.