CVE-2011-3657 in Bugzilla
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Bugzilla 2.x and 3.x before 3.4.13, 3.5.x and 3.6.x before 3.6.7, 3.7.x and 4.0.x before 4.0.3, and 4.1.x through 4.1.3, when debug mode is used, allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors involving a (1) tabular report, (2) graphical report, or (3) new chart.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/28/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2011-3657 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting multiple versions of the Bugzilla bug tracking system. This vulnerability specifically manifests when the application operates in debug mode, creating an environment where malicious actors can exploit the system's failure to properly sanitize user inputs. The flaw impacts versions ranging from 2.x through 4.1.3, with particular attention to the release branches 3.4.x, 3.5.x, 3.6.x, 3.7.x, and 4.0.x, where the issue was not fully addressed until specific patch releases were made. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79, which represents the classic cross-site scripting weakness where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper validation or escaping mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through three distinct attack vectors involving different report types within the Bugzilla interface. Attackers can manipulate tabular reports, graphical reports, or new chart displays to inject malicious scripts that execute within the context of other users' browsers. This occurs because the debug mode configuration fails to properly escape or validate input parameters that are used to generate these report types. When users view these maliciously crafted reports, the injected scripts execute in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or other malicious activities. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages the debug mode functionality, which is often enabled in development environments but may inadvertently remain active in production systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-3657 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can be exploited to compromise the entire Bugzilla application environment. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive bug tracking information, manipulate report data, or establish persistent access through session manipulation techniques. The vulnerability affects not only the end users but also the integrity of the bug tracking workflow, potentially leading to data corruption or unauthorized modifications to critical project information. Organizations using Bugzilla for software development tracking and issue management face significant risks, as this vulnerability can be exploited to undermine the security of their entire development process. The attack surface is particularly wide given that the vulnerability affects multiple major release branches of Bugzilla, making it a widespread concern across many installations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Bugzilla installations to the recommended versions that contain the security fixes. Organizations should disable debug mode in production environments where this vulnerability exists, as the flaw specifically requires this mode to be active for exploitation. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection by monitoring for suspicious script injection patterns in report generation requests. Input validation and output encoding should be implemented to ensure that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being rendered in report interfaces. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual report generation patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and regular security audits should verify that debug mode is not enabled in production environments. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers social engineering through malicious content delivery, and represents a classic example of how insecure input handling can lead to persistent security weaknesses in web applications.