CVE-2013-0785 in Bugzilla
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in show_bug.cgi in Bugzilla before 3.6.13, 3.7.x and 4.0.x before 4.0.10, 4.1.x and 4.2.x before 4.2.5, and 4.3.x and 4.4.x before 4.4rc2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the id parameter in conjunction with an invalid value of the format parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/05/2021
The CVE-2013-0785 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the Bugzilla bug tracking system that affected multiple version branches including 3.6.x, 3.7.x, 4.0.x, 4.1.x, 4.2.x, 4.3.x, and 4.4.x before their respective patched releases. This vulnerability resides in the show_bug.cgi script which serves as the primary interface for displaying bug details within the Bugzilla application. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization of user-supplied parameters, specifically the id parameter and format parameter, which are processed without proper escaping or validation mechanisms. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize input, making it susceptible to malicious code injection attacks that can compromise user sessions and data integrity.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing specially formatted parameters that bypass the application's input validation checks. The id parameter, when combined with an invalid format parameter value, allows attackers to inject arbitrary HTML or JavaScript code that gets executed in the context of other users' browsers who view the affected bug report. This type of vulnerability enables attackers to perform session hijacking, steal cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or execute unauthorized actions on behalf of legitimate users. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages the trust relationship between the web application and its users, making it particularly dangerous in environments where Bugzilla is used for sensitive project tracking and collaboration.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-0785 extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains that compromise entire development environments. In corporate settings where Bugzilla serves as a central tool for managing security vulnerabilities, this vulnerability creates a significant risk that attackers could inject malicious code into bug reports viewed by developers, potentially leading to further compromise of development systems or the injection of backdoors into source code. The vulnerability affects not only individual users but also organizational security posture, as compromised user sessions could provide access to sensitive project information, security patches, and development artifacts. This risk is exacerbated by the fact that Bugzilla is commonly used in security-sensitive environments where the integrity of reported vulnerabilities must be maintained.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement the official patches released by the Bugzilla project for their respective version branches, with the specific versions mentioned in the CVE description being 3.6.13, 4.0.10, 4.2.5, and 4.4rc2. Additional mitigations include implementing proper input validation at multiple layers of the application, deploying web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious parameter values, and conducting thorough security reviews of all user-supplied inputs. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and implementing defense-in-depth strategies, as outlined in the mitre ATT&CK framework under the application layer attack techniques. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts and establish monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability assessments and security training for developers can help prevent similar issues in future applications and maintain overall security hygiene.