CVE-2023-1250 in Community Edition
Summary
by MITRE • 03/20/2023
Improper Input Validation vulnerability in OTRS AG OTRS (ACL modules), OTRS AG ((OTRS)) Community Edition (ACL modules) allows Local Execution of Code. When creating/importing an ACL it was possible to inject code that gets executed via manipulated comments and ACL-names This issue affects OTRS: from 7.0.X before 7.0.42, from 8.0.X before 8.0.31; ((OTRS)) Community Edition: from 6.0.1 through 6.0.34.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2023
The CVE-2023-1250 vulnerability represents a critical improper input validation flaw within the Access Control List (ACL) modules of OTRS AG's OTRS software and its Community Edition. This vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input during the creation or importing of ACL rules, creating a path for malicious actors to inject arbitrary code that executes within the application's context. The flaw specifically manifests when administrators or users interact with ACL management features, where comments and ACL names serve as entry points for code injection attacks. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by its local execution capability, meaning that successful exploitation requires only local system access rather than remote network connectivity, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrative privileges are compromised or where attackers have gained footholds within the system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of input fields that are not properly validated or sanitized before being processed by the ACL module. When users create or import ACL rules, they can inject malicious code within the comment fields or ACL name parameters, which are then executed during subsequent processing operations. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-20, Improper Input Validation, and represents a classic code injection flaw that allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the affected system. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe because it operates within the privileged context of the OTRS application, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges, access sensitive data, or compromise the entire system. The specific version ranges indicate that this vulnerability affects multiple release branches, with OTRS versions 7.0.X prior to 7.0.42 and 8.0.X prior to 8.0.31 being vulnerable, as well as the Community Edition from version 6.0.1 through 6.0.34, suggesting that this flaw has persisted across multiple major releases.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-1250 extends beyond simple code execution, as it represents a significant compromise of the system's integrity and confidentiality. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can potentially access sensitive customer data, modify system configurations, or establish persistent backdoors within the OTRS environment. The vulnerability's presence in both the enterprise and community editions indicates that organizations using either version of OTRS are at risk, particularly those with multiple administrators who frequently create or import ACL rules. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001, Command and Scripting Interpreter, and T1548.002, Abuse of Functionality, as it allows attackers to execute malicious commands through legitimate administrative functions. Organizations utilizing OTRS for customer service management, ticketing systems, or business process automation are particularly vulnerable, as these systems often contain sensitive information and serve as central points of access for various business operations.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including applying the latest security patches from OTRS AG, which address this specific vulnerability in versions 7.0.42 and 8.0.31 for the enterprise edition and 6.0.35 for the community edition. System administrators should also implement strict input validation controls at the application level, ensuring that all user-supplied data in ACL creation and import functions undergoes comprehensive sanitization before processing. Network segmentation and privilege separation should be enforced to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect anomalous behavior in ACL management functions. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their OTRS installations to identify any potential unauthorized modifications or access attempts that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification as a local code execution flaw underscores the importance of maintaining strict access controls and implementing comprehensive audit trails for administrative activities, as this type of attack typically requires an attacker to already have local system access or administrative privileges within the OTRS environment.