CVE-2013-3372 in Best Practical
Summary
by MITRE
Request Tracker (RT) 3.8.x before 3.8.17 and 4.0.x before 4.0.13 allows remote attackers to inject multiple Content-Disposition HTTP headers and possibly conduct cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/07/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-3372 affects Request Tracker (RT) versions 3.8.x prior to 3.8.17 and 4.0.x prior to 4.0.13, representing a critical security flaw in web application input validation and HTTP header handling. This issue stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input within the RT application's response generation mechanisms, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate HTTP headers and potentially execute cross-site scripting attacks. The vulnerability specifically relates to the improper handling of Content-Disposition headers, which are typically used to specify how browsers should handle file downloads and content presentation.
The technical flaw manifests when the RT application processes user input without adequate validation, allowing attackers to inject multiple Content-Disposition headers into HTTP responses. This header injection vulnerability can be exploited to manipulate browser behavior, potentially leading to XSS attacks by tricking the browser into executing malicious scripts within the context of the vulnerable application. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple header manipulation as it can enable attackers to bypass security controls, manipulate file downloads, and potentially redirect users to malicious websites. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-1107, which addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in HTTP headers, and CWE-79, covering cross-site scripting flaws. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this under T1059.007 for script injection techniques and T1566 for credential access through malicious file downloads.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations relying on RT for ticket management and issue tracking, as it provides remote attackers with the capability to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to inject malicious scripts that would execute in the context of authenticated users, potentially leading to complete account compromise and data exfiltration. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or local network privileges to carry out successful attacks. Organizations using affected versions of RT face risks of unauthorized data access, session hijacking, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure. The vulnerability also impacts the integrity of the application's security model, as it allows attackers to manipulate the application's response handling behavior.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-3372 should prioritize immediate patching of affected RT versions to the recommended secure releases, specifically upgrading to RT 3.8.17 or 4.0.13. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and sanitization measures to prevent header injection attempts, including the use of secure header generation libraries and regular security code reviews. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth layers to monitor and block suspicious HTTP header patterns. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and implement logging mechanisms to detect header injection activities. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of the patched environment to ensure that the vulnerability is fully resolved without introducing regressions in application functionality. Regular security updates and patch management procedures should be implemented to maintain the application's security posture against similar vulnerabilities in the future.