CVE-2012-2054 in Redmine
Summary
by MITRE
Redmine before 1.3.2 does not properly restrict the use of a hash to provide values for a model s attributes, which allows remote attackers to set attributes in the (1) Comment, (2) Document, (3) IssueCategory, (4) MembersController, (5) Message, (6) News, (7) TimeEntry, (8) Version, (9) Wiki, (10) UserPreference, or (11) Board model via a modified URL, related to a "mass assignment" vulnerability, a different vulnerability than CVE-2012-0327.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-2054 represents a critical mass assignment flaw in Redmine versions prior to 1.3.2, exposing multiple core application models to unauthorized attribute manipulation. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and parameter handling mechanisms within the application's object-relational mapping system. The flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate model attributes through crafted URLs that contain hash parameters, effectively bypassing normal access controls and permission checks. The affected models include Comment, Document, IssueCategory, MembersController, Message, News, TimeEntry, Version, Wiki, UserPreference, and Board, each representing critical components of the Redmine issue tracking and project management platform. This mass assignment vulnerability operates at the core of Ruby on Rails application security patterns, where developers inadvertently expose internal model attributes that should remain protected from external input.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the application processes user-supplied hash parameters without proper sanitization or attribute whitelisting. Attackers can construct malicious URLs containing parameter names that correspond to internal model attributes, allowing them to modify sensitive fields such as permissions, ownership flags, or administrative settings. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects multiple models simultaneously, creating a broad attack surface that can be leveraged to escalate privileges, modify critical data, or compromise the integrity of the entire project management system. This flaw directly relates to CWE-915, which describes improper control of generation of code, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for Valid Accounts, as successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized access to administrative functions. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of proper parameter validation and attribute restriction that has been a persistent issue in web application frameworks.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-2054 extends beyond simple data modification, as it can enable attackers to gain unauthorized administrative access or manipulate critical project data. When attackers successfully exploit this vulnerability, they can potentially modify issue assignments, alter user permissions, change document ownership, or manipulate time tracking entries, all of which can severely compromise project integrity and security. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where Redmine serves as a central project management tool, as it can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information, data manipulation, and potential privilege escalation. Organizations using vulnerable versions of Redmine face significant risks including unauthorized modifications to project timelines, altered resource allocation data, compromised user access controls, and potential data breaches. The attack vector requires no special privileges or authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by anyone with access to the application's URL structure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of Redmine installations to version 1.3.2 or later, which implements proper attribute restriction mechanisms. Organizations should also implement input validation and parameter sanitization at multiple layers of their application architecture, ensuring that only explicitly allowed attributes can be modified through external input. The implementation of strong access controls and role-based permissions becomes critical, as does regular security auditing of application parameters and URL structures. Organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious parameter patterns, while also conducting thorough penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The fix for this vulnerability aligns with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and follows the principle of least privilege, ensuring that application models can only be modified through properly authenticated and authorized channels. Regular security updates and patch management processes should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future versions of the application.