CVE-2012-2692 in MantisBT
Summary
by MITRE
MantisBT before 1.2.11 does not check the delete_attachments_threshold permission when form_security_validation is set to OFF, which allows remote authenticated users with certain privileges to bypass intended access restrictions and delete arbitrary attachments.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2692 affects MantisBT versions prior to 1.2.11 and represents a critical access control flaw that undermines the intended security model of the bug tracking system. This issue manifests when the form_security_validation parameter is disabled, creating a scenario where authenticated users can circumvent the normal permission checks that should govern attachment deletion operations. The vulnerability specifically targets the delete_attachments_threshold permission mechanism, which is designed to restrict attachment deletion capabilities based on user roles and privileges within the system.
The technical flaw stems from a failure in the application's permission validation logic where the system does not properly enforce access controls when form security validation is disabled. This creates an authorization bypass condition where users with specific privilege levels can execute attachment deletion operations without proper verification of their clearance to perform such actions. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires an authenticated user account to exploit, making it a privilege escalation issue rather than a pure remote code execution threat.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability allows malicious or unauthorized users to remove critical project documentation, evidence of work performed, or sensitive attachments that may contain confidential information. The ability to delete arbitrary attachments can significantly disrupt project workflows, compromise audit trails, and potentially expose sensitive data that was intended to remain protected within the bug tracking environment. Security administrators may lose visibility into important project artifacts, and organizations could face compliance issues if sensitive attachments are removed without proper authorization.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization in software systems, and demonstrates how configuration settings can inadvertently create security weaknesses. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this represents a privilege escalation technique that leverages misconfigured access controls to bypass intended security boundaries. The issue also relates to CWE-345, which covers insufficient verification of data integrity, as the system fails to properly validate that users have appropriate clearance before executing destructive operations. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to MantisBT version 1.2.11 or later, ensuring proper configuration of form_security_validation settings, and conducting comprehensive access control reviews to identify potential unauthorized privilege escalation paths within their bug tracking systems.
The security implications extend beyond simple attachment deletion, as this vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor configuration parameters can create significant security gaps in enterprise software environments. System administrators should perform regular security assessments of their MantisBT installations and ensure that all security features remain enabled and properly configured. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining current software versions and implementing proper security hardening practices to prevent similar issues from arising in other components of the software stack. Organizations using MantisBT or similar systems should consider implementing additional monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect unauthorized attachment deletion activities and maintain proper audit trails for security incident response purposes.