CVE-2013-1810 in MantisBT
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in core/summary_api.php in MantisBT 1.2.12 allow remote authenticated users with manager or administrator permissions to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a (1) category name in the summary_print_by_category function or (2) project name in the summary_print_by_project function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/09/2019
The vulnerability CVE-2013-1810 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in MantisBT version 1.2.12 within the core/summary_api.php file. This issue affects the web-based bug tracking system's summary reporting functionality, specifically targeting the summary_print_by_category and summary_print_by_project functions. The vulnerability requires attackers to possess authenticated manager or administrator privileges, making it particularly dangerous in environments where privileged accounts are compromised or where insufficient access controls exist. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's summary generation processes, creating opportunities for malicious script injection.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through two distinct attack vectors that leverage the application's handling of user-provided data. The first vector targets category names within the summary_print_by_category function, while the second targets project names in the summary_print_by_project function. Both attack paths exploit the same underlying weakness in input sanitization, where user-supplied strings are directly incorporated into HTML output without proper HTML entity encoding or validation. This allows authenticated attackers with sufficient privileges to inject malicious JavaScript code, HTML tags, or other harmful content that gets executed in the context of other users' browsers when they view the affected summary reports.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-1810 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities through the compromised system. An attacker could potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, deface the application interface, or even escalate privileges within the system. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction beyond accessing the affected summary reports, making it particularly effective for passive attacks. The presence of this vulnerability in a bug tracking system like MantisBT is especially concerning since such systems often contain sensitive project information, user data, and business-critical details that could be accessed through successful XSS exploitation.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which describes Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities, and represents a classic example of insecure data handling in web applications. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices and inadequate output encoding, which are fundamental security principles that should be implemented at every layer of web application development. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability could be categorized under T1059.007 for script execution and potentially T1566 for social engineering through malicious content delivery. The vulnerability's classification as a privilege escalation risk is significant since it requires only manager or administrator access, which suggests that proper access control mechanisms may be insufficient to prevent exploitation.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-1810 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. Developers must ensure that all user-provided data, particularly names and identifiers used in reporting functions, undergo proper HTML entity encoding before being rendered in web pages. The most effective remediation involves upgrading to a patched version of MantisBT where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper input sanitization. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers, employing proper access controls, and conducting regular security code reviews can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious user activities that might indicate exploitation attempts.