CVE-2011-5092 in Best Practical
Summary
by MITRE
Best Practical Solutions RT 3.8.x before 3.8.12 and 4.x before 4.0.6 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code and gain privileges via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2011-4458 and CVE-2011-5093.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/17/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-5092 represents a critical remote code execution flaw affecting Best Practical Solutions RT versions 3.8.x prior to 3.8.12 and 4.x prior to 4.0.6. This vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code and escalate privileges on affected systems, making it a significant threat to organizations relying on this ticketing system. The flaw differs from related vulnerabilities CVE-2011-4458 and CVE-2011-5093, indicating it operates through distinct attack vectors and exploitation mechanisms. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple code execution to include privilege escalation, potentially allowing attackers to gain administrative access to the affected systems. This type of vulnerability typically arises from insufficient input validation or improper handling of user-supplied data within the application's processing pipeline, creating opportunities for malicious actors to inject and execute malicious code remotely.
The technical nature of this vulnerability suggests weaknesses in the application's input sanitization and data processing mechanisms within the RT ticketing system. Attackers can exploit this flaw through unspecified vectors that likely involve manipulating input parameters or data fields within the application's interface. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-74, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in data queries, and CWE-94, which covers improper control of generation of code. These weaknesses allow attackers to inject malicious code that executes within the application's context, potentially leading to full system compromise. The vulnerability's presence in both major version lines (3.8.x and 4.x) indicates it was likely introduced in a fundamental component of the application's architecture, making it persistent across multiple releases and requiring comprehensive patching across affected deployments.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-5092 extends beyond immediate code execution capabilities to encompass potential data breaches, system compromise, and unauthorized access to sensitive information. Organizations utilizing RT ticketing systems may experience unauthorized access to support tickets, user information, and potentially confidential business data. The privilege escalation aspect of this vulnerability means attackers could potentially gain administrative rights, allowing them to modify system configurations, access restricted areas, or even take control of the entire system. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on ticketing systems for customer support, incident management, or internal operations, where the compromise of such systems can lead to significant business disruption and potential regulatory violations. The attack surface is broad since RT systems are commonly deployed across various environments including web servers, databases, and support infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-5092 primarily involve applying the vendor-provided patches and updates that address the specific vulnerability in RT versions 3.8.12 and 4.0.6. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of these security updates across all affected systems, ensuring thorough testing in staging environments before production deployment. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of RT systems to untrusted networks, reducing the attack surface available to potential adversaries. The implementation of web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of protection by monitoring for suspicious patterns associated with exploitation attempts. Security monitoring should include regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing to identify potential exploitation attempts or unauthorized access attempts targeting the RT system. Organizations should also consider implementing the principle of least privilege for RT system accounts, limiting access to only necessary personnel and reducing the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script injection further emphasizes the importance of implementing robust input validation and output encoding controls within the application's processing pipeline.