CVE-2017-15577 in Redmine
Summary
by MITRE
Redmine before 3.2.6 and 3.3.x before 3.3.3 mishandles the rendering of wiki links, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/04/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15577 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Redmine project management platform that affects versions prior to 3.2.6 and 3.3.x before 3.3.3. This issue specifically pertains to how the system processes and renders wiki links, creating an avenue for remote attackers to access sensitive data that should otherwise remain protected. The flaw exists in the application's handling of certain wiki link structures and their subsequent rendering process, which can be exploited to extract information that was not intended for public viewing.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization within Redmine's wiki rendering engine. When processing wiki links containing specific patterns or malformed references, the system fails to adequately sanitize the output before displaying it to users. This allows attackers to craft malicious wiki link references that, when rendered, expose internal system information, file paths, or other sensitive data elements. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-200, which addresses "Information Exposure," and represents a form of data leakage that can be exploited through improper access control mechanisms. Attackers can leverage this weakness by creating specially crafted wiki content that, when viewed by other users, reveals information about the underlying system architecture, file system structure, or other confidential details.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can enable more sophisticated attacks by providing attackers with valuable reconnaissance data. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can potentially discover system configurations, user account details, project structures, or other sensitive information that could be used to plan further attacks. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers do not require local access or authentication to the system, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where wiki content is shared across teams or organizations. This flaw can be particularly damaging in enterprise environments where Redmine is used for project management and collaboration, as it could expose proprietary information, development processes, or internal organizational structures.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-15577 focus primarily on upgrading to patched versions of Redmine where the wiki link rendering has been properly secured. Organizations should immediately implement the official security updates released by the Redmine development team, specifically versions 3.2.6 and 3.3.3, which contain the necessary fixes to prevent the improper rendering of wiki links. Additionally, administrators should implement strict content filtering and sanitization policies for wiki content, particularly when user-generated content is allowed. The implementation of web application firewalls and input validation mechanisms can provide additional layers of protection. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving information gathering and credential access, as it enables adversaries to collect system information that could be used to facilitate more advanced attacks. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments of their Redmine installations and monitor for any unauthorized wiki content modifications that might indicate exploitation attempts.