CVE-2012-4199 in Bugzilla
Summary
by MITRE
template/en/default/bug/field-events.js.tmpl in Bugzilla 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 generates JavaScript function calls containing private product names or private component names in certain circumstances involving custom-field visibility control, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information by reading HTML source code.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/21/2017
This vulnerability exists in Bugzilla versions prior to the specified patches, where the template system fails to properly sanitize JavaScript output when handling custom field visibility controls. The flaw occurs in the field-events.js.tmpl file which generates JavaScript function calls that inadvertently expose private product names or component names through the HTML source code. When users with appropriate permissions access certain pages, the system constructs JavaScript code that references sensitive information, but this information is not properly escaped or filtered before being rendered in the browser. This represents a classic information disclosure vulnerability where sensitive data that should remain hidden is exposed through the client-side JavaScript code that gets generated and executed.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and output sanitization within the Bugzilla template engine. When custom fields are configured with visibility restrictions, the system attempts to dynamically generate JavaScript code that controls which elements are displayed to users. However, the template processing logic does not adequately escape or filter the private product or component names before incorporating them into JavaScript function calls. This creates a situation where attackers can retrieve the HTML source code of affected pages and extract sensitive information through the JavaScript code that references these private identifiers. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the core template system that generates client-side code, making it difficult to prevent through traditional server-side filtering mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations using affected Bugzilla versions, as it allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information about private products and components without requiring authentication. This exposure of internal project structures, product names, and component details could provide attackers with valuable intelligence for planning targeted attacks or identifying potential security weaknesses within the organization's software development infrastructure. The vulnerability affects multiple major release branches of Bugzilla, indicating a widespread issue that could impact numerous organizations using different versions of the bug tracking system. The exposure occurs during normal page rendering operations, making it difficult to detect and prevent through standard network monitoring tools.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to the patched versions of Bugzilla to address this vulnerability, as there are no effective workarounds that can be implemented without modifying the core template system. The recommended mitigation strategy involves applying the vendor patches that properly sanitize the JavaScript output by implementing proper escaping mechanisms for private identifiers within the template processing logic. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exposure that may have occurred before patching, particularly focusing on monitoring for unusual access patterns or attempts to retrieve HTML source code from Bugzilla instances. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-20: Improper Input Validation and CWE-200: Information Exposure, and represents a technique that could be categorized under ATT&CK tactic TA0007: Discovery, specifically technique T1083: File and Directory Discovery, where attackers gather information about system resources and configurations through exposure of internal identifiers.