CVE-2014-9571 in MantisBT
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in admin/install.php in MantisBT before 1.2.19 and 1.3.x before 1.3.0-beta.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) admin_username or (2) admin_password parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2022
The CVE-2014-9571 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the MantisBT bug tracking system, specifically within the administrative installation script. This vulnerability affects versions prior to 1.2.19 and 1.3.x prior to 1.3.0-beta.2, making it a significant security concern for organizations relying on these older versions. The flaw exists in the admin/install.php file where user input parameters are not properly sanitized before being processed and rendered back to the web browser. The vulnerability manifests when attackers exploit the lack of input validation on two specific parameters: admin_username and admin_password, which are used during the initial setup process of the MantisBT system.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes Cross-Site Scripting flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into web page content without proper validation or encoding. In the context of MantisBT, when an attacker crafts malicious input containing script tags or HTML code within the admin_username or admin_password fields during installation, the system fails to sanitize this input properly. The vulnerable code path processes these parameters without adequate filtering or escaping mechanisms, allowing malicious scripts to be executed within the context of the victim's browser session. This occurs because the installation script does not implement proper output encoding or input validation techniques that would prevent the injection of executable code into the web application's response.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks within the target environment. Attackers could potentially inject malicious scripts that redirect users to phishing sites, steal authentication cookies, or even execute arbitrary commands if the application's security model allows for additional privilege escalation. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous during the installation phase when administrators are typically performing setup operations with elevated privileges, potentially allowing attackers to compromise the entire system. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for Scripting and T1566.001 for Phishing, as attackers can use the XSS to deliver malicious payloads and establish initial access points within the organization's infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-9571 should prioritize immediate patching of affected MantisBT installations to versions 1.2.19 or 1.3.0-beta.2 and later, which contain the necessary input validation fixes. Organizations should also implement proper input sanitization measures in their web applications, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly escaped or encoded before being rendered in HTML contexts. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of administrative installation scripts to untrusted users. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and input validation, particularly for administrative interfaces where attackers can gain elevated privileges. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of their software ecosystem. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patched installations to ensure that the XSS vulnerability has been properly addressed without introducing regressions in functionality.