CVE-2014-8988 in MantisBT
Summary
by MITRE
MantisBT before 1.2.18 allows remote authenticated users to bypass the $g_download_attachments_threshold and $g_view_attachments_threshold restrictions and read attachments for private projects by leveraging access to a project that does not restrict access to attachments and a request to the download URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/04/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-8988 affects MantisBT versions prior to 1.2.18 and represents a critical access control flaw that undermines the software's security model for managing project attachments. This issue allows authenticated attackers to circumvent intended access restrictions by exploiting a logical inconsistency in how the system handles attachment permissions across different project configurations. The flaw specifically targets the $g_download_attachments_threshold and $g_view_attachments_threshold parameters that are designed to control who can access project attachments based on user permissions and project visibility settings.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from a failure in the permission checking mechanism within MantisBT's attachment handling code. When a user has access to a project that does not enforce attachment access restrictions, they can leverage this access to request attachments from private projects that should normally be restricted. This occurs because the system fails to properly validate whether the requesting user has adequate permissions for the target project's attachment settings, instead relying on the presence of access to an unrestricted project as sufficient authorization. The vulnerability operates through a request to the download URL without proper cross-project permission verification, effectively creating a privilege escalation path that bypasses the intended security controls.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations using MantisBT for project management and issue tracking. Attackers who can authenticate to the system and have access to at least one project with permissive attachment settings can potentially access sensitive information stored in private projects. This could include confidential project documentation, source code, design specifications, or other proprietary materials that should remain restricted to authorized personnel only. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as it undermines the entire access control framework that the system is designed to provide, potentially exposing intellectual property and sensitive business data to unauthorized users.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control issues in software systems, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential access through privilege escalation. Organizations should immediately apply the patch available for MantisBT 1.2.18 and later versions that addresses this specific access control bypass. Additionally, system administrators should review and audit existing project configurations to ensure that attachment access restrictions are properly enforced across all project types. Regular security assessments of the issue tracking system should include verification of access control mechanisms and monitoring for unauthorized attachment access attempts. The mitigation strategy should also involve implementing network-level controls and logging mechanisms to detect suspicious access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts of this vulnerability.