CVE-2023-1250
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code on OTRS systems by injecting malicious code into ACL module comments or names during creation or import. It affects OTRS AG OTRS and OTRS Community Edition installations within specified version ranges, potentially compromising the entire system if exploited.
💻 Affected Systems
- OTRS AG OTRS
- OTRS AG OTRS Community Edition
📦 What is this software?
Otrs by Otrs
Otrs by Otrs
Otrs by Otrs
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Full system compromise leading to data theft, service disruption, or lateral movement within the network.
Likely Case
Unauthorized code execution allowing privilege escalation or data manipulation within the OTRS application.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if input validation is enforced or access controls restrict ACL modifications to trusted users.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires authenticated access to the OTRS interface with ACL management privileges; code injection is straightforward once access is obtained.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: OTRS 7.0.42, OTRS 8.0.31, OTRS Community Edition 6.0.35 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://otrs.com/release-notes/otrs-security-advisory-2023-02/
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Backup the OTRS system and database. 2. Download the patched version from the official OTRS website. 3. Follow the OTRS upgrade guide to apply the update. 4. Restart the OTRS services to apply changes.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict ACL Management Permissions
allLimit access to ACL creation and import functions to only essential, trusted administrators to reduce attack surface.
Configure OTRS group permissions via Admin > Groups > Group Management to restrict ACL module access.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict input validation filters for ACL names and comments to block code injection attempts.
- Monitor and audit ACL modification logs for suspicious activity and restrict network access to OTRS instances.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check the OTRS version in the Admin > System Configuration > System Information panel; if within affected ranges, the system is vulnerable.Check Version:
In OTRS web interface, navigate to Admin > System Configuration > System Information and look for the version number.Verify Fix Applied:
After patching, confirm the version is 7.0.42 or higher for OTRS, 8.0.31 or higher for OTRS, or 6.0.35 or higher for Community Edition.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual ACL creation or import events, especially with suspicious characters or code-like strings in comments or names.
Network Indicators:
- Unexpected outbound connections from OTRS servers post-ACL modifications.
SIEM Query:
Search for OTRS logs with event_type='ACL Modification' and (comment CONTAINS 'eval' OR name CONTAINS 'system') within a short time window.