CVE-2014-2554 in OTRS
Summary
by MITRE
OTRS 3.1.x before 3.1.21, 3.2.x before 3.2.16, and 3.3.x before 3.3.6 allows remote attackers to conduct clickjacking attacks via an IFRAME element.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/11/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2554 affects OTRS (Open-source Ticket Request System) versions prior to specific patch releases, creating a significant security risk through clickjacking attacks. This issue impacts multiple version branches including 3.1.x before 3.1.21, 3.2.x before 3.2.16, and 3.3.x before 3.3.6, indicating a widespread problem within the OTRS platform that required immediate attention from administrators and security teams. The vulnerability specifically enables remote attackers to execute clickjacking attacks by leveraging IFRAME elements, which represents a sophisticated method of deception that can bypass user awareness and security controls.
The technical flaw stems from the absence of proper clickjacking protection mechanisms within the OTRS web interface, particularly in how it handles IFRAME elements that can be embedded in malicious web pages. When users visit compromised websites, attackers can overlay transparent or opaque elements over legitimate OTRS interface components, tricking users into performing unintended actions such as submitting forms, clicking buttons, or navigating to malicious destinations. The vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate the user interface by positioning their malicious content in such a way that it appears to be part of the legitimate OTRS application, making it difficult for users to distinguish between genuine and malicious interface elements.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it can lead to unauthorized actions within the OTRS system, potentially resulting in data manipulation, unauthorized access to sensitive information, or the execution of administrative functions without proper authorization. Attackers can exploit this weakness to perform actions such as creating new tickets, modifying existing records, accessing confidential customer data, or even gaining elevated privileges within the system. The remote nature of the attack means that users can be compromised from anywhere with internet access, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that rely on OTRS for customer service management, ticket tracking, and business operations.
Organizations using affected OTRS versions face significant risk of credential theft, data breaches, and unauthorized system modifications. The vulnerability can be exploited in conjunction with other attacks, potentially leading to more severe consequences including privilege escalation or complete system compromise. Security teams must understand that this vulnerability falls under CWE-1021, which specifically addresses "Improper Restriction of Rendered UI Elements" and is categorized under the broader ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreters, as attackers can leverage the clickjacking to execute malicious commands through manipulated user interface elements. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing proper security headers such as X-Frame-Options and Content Security Policy to prevent unauthorized embedding of web applications.
The recommended mitigations include immediate patching of all affected OTRS versions to the specified secure releases, which would address the root cause of the clickjacking vulnerability. Organizations should also implement comprehensive security headers including X-Frame-Options with the SAMEORIGIN or DENY values to prevent their applications from being embedded in IFRAME elements. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy directives can provide additional protection by explicitly defining which sources of content are allowed to be loaded and executed within the application. Security teams should also conduct regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other web applications, as this type of issue is common across many web platforms and requires ongoing vigilance to prevent exploitation.