CVE-2012-0465 in Bugzilla
Summary
by MITRE
Bugzilla 3.5.x and 3.6.x before 3.6.9, 3.7.x and 4.0.x before 4.0.6, and 4.1.x and 4.2.x before 4.2.1, when the inbound_proxies option is enabled, does not properly validate the X-Forwarded-For HTTP header, which allows remote attackers to bypass the lockout policy via a series of authentication requests with (1) different IP address strings in this header or (2) a long string in this header.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/24/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-0465 affects Bugzilla versions prior to specific patch releases, specifically targeting the authentication mechanism when inbound proxies are enabled. This issue resides within the HTTP header validation process, particularly concerning the X-Forwarded-For header which is commonly used to identify the original IP address of a client connecting through a proxy server. The flaw represents a significant security weakness that directly impacts the system's ability to enforce account lockout policies effectively.
The technical flaw manifests when Bugzilla processes authentication requests through proxy configurations where the X-Forwarded-For header is improperly validated. The system fails to properly sanitize or validate the contents of this header, allowing attackers to manipulate the perceived source IP address for authentication attempts. This vulnerability operates through two primary attack vectors: either by submitting authentication requests with varying IP address strings within the X-Forwarded-For header or by crafting extremely long strings within this header field. The improper validation creates a condition where the system cannot accurately track authentication attempts from the same logical source, effectively bypassing the intended lockout mechanisms designed to prevent brute force attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it undermines fundamental security controls designed to protect against unauthorized access attempts. Attackers can systematically bypass account lockout policies that are typically implemented to prevent automated brute force attacks, potentially leading to account compromise through repeated authentication attempts. This weakness particularly affects systems that rely on proxy configurations for load balancing or network segmentation, where the X-Forwarded-For header is essential for maintaining proper client identification. The vulnerability exposes organizations to increased risk of credential stuffing attacks and account takeover attempts, as the system cannot properly correlate authentication attempts from what it believes to be different source IPs.
The security implications extend beyond simple authentication bypass, as this vulnerability aligns with several common attack patterns documented in the ATT&CK framework under credential access and privilege escalation techniques. From a CWE perspective, this represents a weakness in input validation and authentication mechanism design, specifically categorized under CWE-284 for improper access control and CWE-310 for cryptographic issues in authentication. Organizations using Bugzilla in production environments with proxy configurations must address this vulnerability immediately to prevent potential unauthorized access to sensitive systems and data. The recommended mitigation involves updating to the patched versions of Bugzilla as specified in the CVE description, along with implementing proper input validation for proxy headers and monitoring authentication patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper header validation in web applications that operate behind proxy servers, as it illustrates how seemingly innocuous configuration options can create significant security weaknesses. The flaw highlights the need for comprehensive testing of authentication mechanisms under various network configurations and emphasizes the importance of validating all user-supplied data, particularly in headers that are commonly manipulated in attack scenarios. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring and alerting for unusual authentication patterns, as the bypassed lockout policies may be the first indicator of attempted exploitation.