CVE-2001-1212 in Aktivate
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting vulnerability in catgy.cgi for Aktivate 1.03 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary Javascript via the desc parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/27/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-1212 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the catgy.cgi script of Aktivate version 1.03, a web application framework that was prevalent in the early 2000s. This security weakness resides in the application's handling of user input through the desc parameter, which is processed without adequate sanitization or validation mechanisms. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary javascript code that executes within the context of other users' browsers when they view the affected content, creating a persistent threat vector that can compromise user sessions and data integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly escape or filter special characters in user-supplied input before rendering it in web pages. When the desc parameter is submitted through the catgy.cgi script, the system does not adequately sanitize the input to prevent script execution, creating a direct pathway for attackers to embed malicious javascript payloads. This weakness directly aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as improper neutralization of input during web page generation, and represents a fundamental flaw in the application's input validation and output encoding practices. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no special privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by anyone with access to the affected web interface.
The operational impact of CVE-2001-1212 extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, deface web pages, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. In the context of the Aktivate 1.03 framework, this vulnerability could allow adversaries to compromise the integrity of web content, manipulate user experiences, and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability affects a core content management component, meaning that any content submitted through the desc parameter could become a vector for exploitation. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which describes the use of malicious content to gain initial access through web-based attacks, and T1059.007, which covers script-based execution through web interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application stack. The most effective immediate solution involves sanitizing all user-supplied input, particularly parameters like desc, by removing or encoding potentially dangerous characters such as angle brackets, quotes, and script tags. Implementing proper HTML entity encoding when rendering user content ensures that any injected javascript is treated as plain text rather than executable code. Additionally, developers should consider implementing a Content Security Policy (CSP) header to further limit the execution of unauthorized scripts, and establish a robust input validation framework that follows established security guidelines. The remediation approach should also include regular security assessments and code reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, as this type of flaw was common in web applications of that era and may indicate broader security weaknesses in the overall application architecture.