CVE-2012-2768 in Request Tracker
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the topic administration page in the RTFM extension 2.0.4 through 2.4.3 for Best Practical Solutions RT allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2768 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness within the RTFM extension for Best Practical Solutions RT, affecting versions 2.0.4 through 2.4.3. This issue resides in the topic administration page functionality, which serves as a control interface for managing forum topics within the RT system. The RTFM extension is designed to provide forum capabilities within the RT ticketing system, enabling users to create and manage discussion topics related to support tickets. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly handle user-supplied data before rendering it within web pages.
The technical flaw manifests as insufficient sanitization of user inputs within the topic administration interface, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts or HTML code through unspecified vectors. These vectors likely include form fields, URL parameters, or other user-controllable input points within the administration page. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to properly sanitize user inputs before incorporating them into web page content. This weakness enables attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of the victim's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or unauthorized actions within the RT system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides remote attackers with the capability to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to the RT system's administrative functions. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to inject scripts that steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or manipulate forum content to spread malware. The attack surface extends beyond simple XSS exploitation as the vulnerability exists within an administrative interface, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges or modify critical forum configurations. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1531 - Account Access Removal, as compromised user sessions could be used to access sensitive administrative functions, and T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, when malicious scripts are executed in victim browsers.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the RTFM extension. Organizations should immediately upgrade to versions of the RTFM extension that address this vulnerability, as no patches were available for the affected versions. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers should be considered to prevent unauthorized script execution, while proper input sanitization using established libraries and frameworks should be enforced. Regular security assessments of web applications should include thorough testing of administrative interfaces for XSS vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious script injection patterns can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of securing administrative interfaces and implementing proper security controls throughout all application components, particularly those handling user input in web-based systems.