CVE-2012-4197 in Bugzilla
Summary
by MITRE
Bugzilla/Attachment.pm in attachment.cgi in Bugzilla 2.x and 3.x before 3.6.12, 3.7.x and 4.0.x before 4.0.9, 4.1.x and 4.2.x before 4.2.4, and 4.3.x and 4.4.x before 4.4rc1 allows remote attackers to read attachment descriptions from private bugs via an obsolete=1 insert action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/19/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4197 affects Bugzilla versions 2.x and 3.x before 3.6.12, 3.7.x and 4.0.x before 4.0.9, 4.1.x and 4.2.x before 4.2.4, and 4.3.x and 4.4.x before 4.4rc1. This flaw resides in the Attachment.pm module within the attachment.cgi script and represents a critical information disclosure vulnerability that undermines the security model of private bug reports. The vulnerability specifically exploits a design flaw in how the system handles attachment descriptions when processing obsolete=1 insert actions, allowing unauthorized remote attackers to access sensitive data that should remain restricted to authorized users only.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate access control validation within the attachment handling mechanism. When a remote attacker submits a request with obsolete=1 parameter to the attachment.cgi script, the system fails to properly verify whether the requesting user has appropriate permissions to view the attachment description of private bugs. This occurs because the code path that processes the obsolete=1 insert action bypasses the normal permission checking routines that would typically validate user access rights before exposing sensitive information. The flaw essentially creates a backdoor path through which attachment metadata can be retrieved without proper authentication, effectively violating the principle of least privilege that governs secure software design.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it compromises the confidentiality of private bug reports and their associated attachments. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to sensitive project information, including detailed bug descriptions, attachments containing proprietary code snippets, and other confidential data that should only be visible to authorized team members. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on Bugzilla for tracking security-sensitive issues, as it enables external parties to harvest valuable intelligence about software vulnerabilities before they are publicly disclosed or patched. The damage potential increases significantly in environments where Bugzilla serves as the primary bug tracking system for enterprise applications or security-sensitive projects.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-200, which describes "Information Exposure" and specifically addresses situations where information is exposed to unauthorized users. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique under the T1078 entry for Valid Accounts, as the vulnerability allows attackers to access restricted information without proper authentication. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant patches for Bugzilla versions mentioned in the CVE description, configuring proper access controls, and monitoring for suspicious attachment access patterns. Additionally, security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of their Bugzilla installations to identify any other potential access control bypasses and ensure that all users have appropriate permission levels assigned according to their role within the organization.