CVE-2017-15575 in Redmine
Summary
by MITRE
In Redmine before 3.2.6 and 3.3.x before 3.3.3, Redmine.pm lacks a check for whether the Repository module is enabled in a project's settings, which might allow remote attackers to obtain sensitive differences information or possibly have unspecified other impact.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/04/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15575 affects Redmine versions prior to 3.2.6 and 3.3.3, representing a critical access control flaw in the Redmine.pm module that governs repository operations. This issue stems from the absence of proper validation mechanisms within the Repository module's configuration checks, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to sensitive repository data. The flaw specifically targets the authentication and authorization controls that should prevent users from accessing repository differences information when the repository module is not properly enabled for specific projects.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the Redmine.pm component where the system fails to verify that a project's repository module has been explicitly enabled before allowing access to repository-related functionalities. This oversight creates a condition where remote attackers can bypass normal access controls and potentially obtain sensitive differences information from repositories that should be restricted. The vulnerability operates under the principle of insufficient validation of repository module status, which aligns with CWE-693, representing a protection mechanism that is not properly enforced. The flaw essentially allows for privilege escalation through repository access control bypass, where unauthorized users can gain access to information that should be restricted based on project configuration settings.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability exposes organizations to significant security risks including potential data leakage of source code differences, commit histories, and other sensitive repository information. The unspecified other impacts mentioned in the CVE description suggest that the vulnerability may enable additional attack vectors beyond simple information disclosure, potentially allowing for more sophisticated attacks such as code injection or privilege escalation. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability without requiring physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous in environments where Redmine is exposed to untrusted networks.
Organizations utilizing affected Redmine versions should immediately implement the available patches and updates to address this vulnerability. The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to Redmine versions 3.2.6 or 3.3.3, which contain the necessary fixes for repository module validation. Additionally, administrators should review project configurations to ensure that repository modules are properly enabled only for projects that require such functionality. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of Redmine instances to untrusted networks. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper access control validation and configuration management in web applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for phishing attacks that could exploit such configuration flaws. Security teams should also implement monitoring for unauthorized access attempts to repository modules and establish incident response procedures to address potential exploitation of this vulnerability.