CVE-2024-23791 in OTRS
Summary
by MITRE • 01/29/2024
Insertion of debug information into log file during building the elastic search index allows reading of sensitive information from articles.This issue affects OTRS: from 7.0.X through 7.0.48, from 8.0.X through 8.0.37, from 2023.X through 2023.1.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/21/2024
This vulnerability in OTRS represents a critical information disclosure flaw that occurs during the elastic search index building process. The issue stems from the improper handling of debug information within log files, where sensitive data from articles becomes inadvertently exposed through the indexing mechanism. The vulnerability affects multiple version ranges including 7.0.X through 7.0.48, 8.0.X through 8.0.37, and 2023.X through 2023.1.1, indicating a widespread impact across the OTRS platform's major releases. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation and output sanitization practices during the indexing operation, where debug data that should remain internal becomes persisted in log files accessible to unauthorized parties.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the elastic search indexing process where debug information is injected into log files without proper sanitization or access controls. When OTRS processes articles for indexing, debug data containing sensitive information gets written to log files alongside the normal indexing operations. This creates a situation where unauthorized users with access to the log files can retrieve confidential data that was never intended for public exposure. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which specifically addresses improper exposure of sensitive information, and represents a classic example of insecure logging practices that can lead to data breaches.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can lead to significant security breaches involving customer data, business information, or other sensitive content stored within OTRS articles. Attackers who gain access to the log files can extract confidential information that was processed through the indexing system, potentially including personal data, financial information, or proprietary business details. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on OTRS for customer service management, where articles often contain sensitive customer information, making the exposure of such data potentially catastrophic for compliance and regulatory requirements. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that multiple major versions are affected, increasing the potential for exploitation across various deployment environments.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including restricting access to log files, implementing proper log sanitization procedures, and applying the latest patches available for their OTRS installations. The recommended approach involves configuring access controls to limit log file access to authorized personnel only, implementing log rotation and cleanup procedures to prevent long-term retention of sensitive information, and ensuring that debug information is properly filtered or removed before any logging operations. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing monitoring and alerting mechanisms to detect unauthorized access attempts to log files, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1562.006 for credential access and T1070 for indicator removal. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and proper input validation, particularly when handling sensitive data through indexing operations, as recommended by OWASP Top 10 security principles.