CVE-2015-1464 in Request Tracker
Summary
by MITRE
RT (aka Request Tracker) before 4.0.23 and 4.2.x before 4.2.10 allows remote attackers to hijack sessions via an RSS feed URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/01/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1464 affects the Request Tracker (RT) application, a widely used help desk and ticketing system that manages incident tracking and workflow automation. This security flaw exists in versions prior to 4.0.23 and 4.2.x prior to 4.2.10, creating a significant session hijacking risk that can be exploited by remote attackers. The vulnerability specifically relates to how RT handles RSS feed URLs, which are commonly used for syndicating ticket updates and notifications to external systems or users. The flaw enables attackers to manipulate session tokens through crafted RSS feed requests, potentially allowing unauthorized access to user sessions and system resources.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and session management within the RSS feed processing functionality of RT. When users access RSS feeds associated with tickets or other RT resources, the system fails to properly sanitize or validate the URL parameters that contain session identifiers. This weakness creates a path for attackers to construct malicious RSS feed URLs that can be used to steal session cookies or manipulate session tokens, effectively allowing them to impersonate legitimate users. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which covers "Improper Input Validation," and CWE-384, which addresses "Session Fixation," making it particularly dangerous in environments where RT is used for sensitive incident management.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple session hijacking to encompass potential data breaches, unauthorized access to confidential tickets, and disruption of normal workflow operations. Attackers could gain access to sensitive information contained within tickets, including user data, system details, and business-critical information. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in organizations that rely heavily on RT for security incident response, where unauthorized access could compromise ongoing investigations or expose system vulnerabilities. Additionally, the remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this flaw from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the system or network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-1464 should prioritize immediate patching of affected RT installations to versions 4.0.23 or 4.2.10, which contain the necessary fixes for session handling and input validation. Organizations should also implement network-level controls such as firewalls and access control lists to restrict access to RSS feed endpoints where possible, particularly in environments where external access is not required. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in RSS feed access or session-related activity. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper session management practices and input validation, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1563.002 for "Access Token Manipulation" and emphasizing the need for robust authentication controls. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security measures such as secure session cookie attributes, regular session token rotation, and comprehensive logging of authentication-related events to detect and respond to similar vulnerabilities in the future.