CVE-2012-2691 in MantisBT
Summary
by MITRE
The mc_issue_note_update function in the SOAP API in MantisBT before 1.2.11 does not properly check privileges, which allows remote attackers with bug reporting privileges to edit arbitrary bugnotes via a SOAP request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2691 affects MantisBT versions prior to 1.2.11 and resides within the SOAP API implementation specifically in the mc_issue_note_update function. This represents a critical privilege escalation flaw that undermines the application's access control mechanisms and allows unauthorized modifications to bug tracking records. The vulnerability specifically targets the authentication and authorization checks that should prevent users from modifying content they do not own or have proper clearance for.
The technical flaw manifests in the mc_issue_note_update function's failure to validate user permissions before processing SOAP requests for bugnote updates. This function, which serves as an interface for modifying issue notes through the SOAP protocol, lacks proper authorization verification that would normally ensure only the original author or users with appropriate administrative privileges can modify existing bugnotes. The absence of these checks creates a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system's trust model and manipulate bug tracking data regardless of their actual permissions level.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables remote attackers who possess basic bug reporting privileges to escalate their access and modify arbitrary bugnotes within the MantisBT system. This compromise can lead to significant data integrity issues, including the potential for attackers to alter bug descriptions, add misleading information, or remove critical details from existing bug reports. The impact extends beyond simple data modification as it can undermine the entire bug tracking workflow and compromise the reliability of the system's issue management capabilities.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses insufficient authorization within software applications, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with privilege escalation attacks in web applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and can be leveraged to achieve persistent access within the bug tracking environment. Organizations using affected versions of MantisBT face risks of data corruption, information disclosure, and potential further exploitation if the system lacks proper input validation and access control measures.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to MantisBT version 1.2.11 or later, which includes the necessary patches to address the privilege checking flaw in the SOAP API. Additionally, administrators should implement network segmentation to limit access to the SOAP API endpoints, enforce strict authentication measures, and monitor for unauthorized modifications to bug tracking records. Regular security assessments and code reviews focusing on authentication mechanisms should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. Organizations should also consider implementing additional logging and audit trails specifically for SOAP API interactions to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain proper accountability for all system modifications.