CVE-2015-2146 in phpBugTracker
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in Issuetracker phpBugTracker before 1.7.0 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) id parameter to project.php, the (2) group_id parameter to group.php, the (3) status_id parameter to status.php, the (4) resolution_id parameter to resolution.php, the (5) severity_id parameter to severity.php, the (6) priority_id parameter to priority.php, the (7) os_id parameter to os.php, or the (8) site_id parameter to site.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/22/2019
The vulnerability CVE-2015-2146 represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting phpBugTracker versions prior to 1.7.0, specifically targeting multiple administrative and tracking parameters across various project management functions. This vulnerability resides within the core database interaction mechanisms of the issue tracking system, where user-supplied input is directly incorporated into SQL query construction without proper sanitization or parameterization. The affected parameters span across multiple PHP scripts including project.php, group.php, status.php, resolution.php, severity.php, priority.php, os.php, and site.php, each handling distinct project management attributes such as project identification, user groups, issue status tracking, resolution categories, severity levels, priority settings, operating system specifications, and site configurations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the injection of malicious SQL payloads via HTTP GET parameters, allowing remote attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms and execute arbitrary database commands. When the application processes these unvalidated parameters, the SQL queries become vulnerable to manipulation, enabling attackers to perform unauthorized database operations including data extraction, modification, deletion, or even privilege escalation. The vulnerability specifically targets the lack of input validation and proper SQL query preparation techniques, which aligns with CWE-89, the standard for SQL injection vulnerabilities. Attackers can leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized access to sensitive project data, user credentials, and system configuration information stored within the database backend.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-2146 extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with potential for complete system compromise through database manipulation. Remote attackers can exploit these vulnerabilities to escalate privileges, modify critical project data, inject malicious code into the application, or establish persistent backdoors within the issue tracking environment. The multi-vector nature of the vulnerability across eight different parameters increases the attack surface and exploitation probability, making it particularly dangerous for organizations relying on phpBugTracker for project management and issue tracking. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK tactics including credential access through database exploitation and privilege escalation via malicious SQL injection commands, demonstrating the comprehensive threat potential.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies including immediate patching to version 1.7.0 or later, which contains proper input validation and parameterized query implementations. Additionally, implementing proper input sanitization measures, database query parameterization, and comprehensive web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers. Network segmentation and access control measures should be enforced to limit exposure of the vulnerable application to untrusted networks. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar injection vulnerabilities within other applications, as the underlying issue reflects common weaknesses in database interaction patterns that frequently appear in web applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and proper database query construction practices as outlined in OWASP Top Ten security principles and industry-standard security frameworks.