CVE-2013-3374 in Best Practical
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Request Tracker (RT) 3.8.x before 3.8.17 and 4.0.x before 4.0.13, when using the Apache::Session::File session store, allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information (user preferences and caches) via unknown vectors, related to a "limited session re-use."
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/07/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-3374 affects Request Tracker (RT) versions 3.8.x prior to 3.8.17 and 4.0.x prior to 4.0.13 when utilizing the Apache::Session::File session store mechanism. This represents a significant security weakness in the session management infrastructure of the RT application, which is widely used for issue tracking and help desk management in enterprise environments. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of session data persistence and retrieval, creating opportunities for unauthorized information disclosure that could compromise user privacy and system integrity.
The technical flaw manifests through the Apache::Session::File session store implementation, which is responsible for managing user sessions in the RT application. When this specific session store is employed, the system fails to properly isolate session data between different user contexts, allowing for session re-use scenarios that can be exploited by remote attackers. The vulnerability is categorized as a limited session re-use issue, meaning that attackers can potentially access session data that should be restricted to specific users, particularly affecting user preferences and cached data that may contain sensitive operational information. This flaw operates at the application level and leverages the underlying session storage mechanism to bypass normal access controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can provide attackers with access to user preferences, cached data, and potentially other sensitive session information that could be used for further exploitation. In enterprise environments where RT is deployed for managing critical business processes, this vulnerability could enable attackers to gain insights into user behavior patterns, system configurations, and operational workflows. The exposure of cached data and user preferences could facilitate more sophisticated attacks, including social engineering campaigns or targeted attacks against specific users within the organization, making this a particularly concerning vulnerability for organizations with sensitive data management requirements.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to RT versions 3.8.17 or 4.0.13, which contain the necessary patches to address the session re-use vulnerability. Additionally, administrators should review their session store configurations to ensure that Apache::Session::File is not being used in environments where it poses unacceptable risk, and consider implementing alternative session storage mechanisms that provide better isolation and security guarantees. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200 (Information Disclosure) and represents a specific implementation weakness in session management that could be exploited to compromise user privacy and system security. This issue also relates to ATT&CK technique T1566 (Phishing) and T1078 (Valid Accounts) as attackers could use the leaked information to craft more convincing social engineering attacks or to escalate privileges within the system.