CVE-2016-15009 in bug-tracker
Summary
by MITRE • 01/05/2023
A vulnerability classified as problematic has been found in OpenACS bug-tracker. Affected is an unknown function of the file lib/nav-bar.adp of the component Search. The manipulation leads to cross-site request forgery. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The name of the patch is aee43e5714cd8b697355ec3bf83eefee176d3fc3. It is recommended to apply a patch to fix this issue. The identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-217440.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-15009 represents a cross-site request forgery flaw within the OpenACS bug-tracker application, specifically affecting the search component functionality. This issue resides in the lib/nav-bar.adp file, which serves as a navigation bar template component within the application's user interface. The vulnerability's classification as problematic indicates significant security implications that could compromise user sessions and potentially allow unauthorized actions to be performed on behalf of authenticated users.
The technical flaw manifests through an improper implementation of anti-CSRF protection mechanisms within the affected navigation bar component. When users interact with the search functionality, the application fails to properly validate or enforce request authenticity, creating an avenue for malicious actors to craft forged requests that appear legitimate to the server. This vulnerability operates at the application layer where user interface components interact with backend processes, specifically targeting the navigation bar's search capabilities that may not properly implement CSRF tokens or similar protective measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it enables remote exploitation without requiring user interaction beyond accessing the vulnerable application. An attacker can construct malicious web pages or emails containing crafted requests that, when visited by an authenticated user, will execute unintended actions within the OpenACS environment. This remote attack vector eliminates the need for physical access or complex network positioning, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where users may encounter malicious content through various channels including phishing campaigns or compromised websites.
The patch identified by the hash aee43e5714cd8b697355ec3bf83eefee176d3fc3 addresses this vulnerability by implementing proper CSRF protection mechanisms within the affected navigation bar component. This fix typically involves adding unique tokens to requests and validating these tokens server-side to ensure that requests originate from legitimate user interactions rather than maliciously constructed forged requests. Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery issues in software applications. The vulnerability's characteristics also map to ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which covers phishing attacks that leverage web-based exploitation techniques to gain unauthorized access to systems.
Organizations utilizing OpenACS bug-tracker should prioritize immediate patch deployment to mitigate this vulnerability, as the remote exploitation capability creates an elevated risk profile. The implementation of additional security controls such as web application firewalls and regular security assessments can provide additional defense-in-depth layers. System administrators should also monitor user access logs for suspicious activities that might indicate exploitation attempts, while ensuring that all users receive appropriate security awareness training regarding the risks of visiting untrusted websites or clicking suspicious links that could trigger CSRF attacks. The vulnerability's resolution through the provided patch demonstrates the importance of maintaining current security updates and following vendor security advisories to protect against known exploitation techniques.