CVE-2015-6506 in Request Tracker
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the cryptography interface in Request Tracker (RT) before 4.2.12 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted public key.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/14/2022
The vulnerability CVE-2015-6506 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the cryptography interface of Request Tracker version 4.2.11 and earlier. This issue affects a widely used issue tracking system that organizations rely on for managing support tickets and security incidents. The vulnerability specifically resides within the cryptographic interface component where public key handling occurs, making it particularly concerning given the sensitive nature of cryptographic operations and the potential for exploitation in security contexts.
The technical flaw manifests when the system fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input during public key processing within the cryptography interface. Attackers can craft malicious public keys containing embedded script code that gets executed when the system displays the key information to authenticated users. This unfiltered input processing creates an environment where arbitrary web script or HTML code can be injected into the application's response, bypassing standard security controls and user authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no special privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where legitimate users might inadvertently encounter malicious content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation. When legitimate users view the compromised public key information, their browsers execute the injected scripts, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or modify application behavior. This threat is exacerbated by the fact that the vulnerability exists within a cryptographic interface, suggesting that attackers could potentially manipulate key management processes or gain unauthorized access to sensitive cryptographic operations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting flaws, and could be leveraged through ATT&CK technique T1566 to deliver malicious content to targeted users.
Organizations utilizing Request Tracker versions prior to 4.2.12 should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to the patched version 4.2.12 or later, implementing input validation controls for all cryptographic interface components, and conducting thorough security reviews of all public key handling processes. Additional protective measures include deploying web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious script injection attempts, implementing content security policies to restrict script execution, and establishing monitoring procedures to detect anomalous user behavior or unauthorized cryptographic key modifications. Security teams should also consider conducting user awareness training to help identify potential XSS attack vectors and ensure that all cryptographic operations within the system are properly validated and sanitized before processing. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation in cryptographic interfaces and the potential for seemingly benign operations to become attack vectors when proper security controls are not implemented.