CVE-2012-0017 in SharePoint
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in inplview.aspx in Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2010 Gold and SP1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via JavaScript sequences in a URL, aka "XSS in inplview.aspx Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/20/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0017 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw located within the inplview.aspx component of Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2010, affecting both the Gold release and Service Pack 1 versions. This weakness resides in the web application's handling of URL parameters, specifically when JavaScript sequences are passed through web requests to the SharePoint foundation interface. The flaw enables malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML content within the context of a victim's browser session, potentially compromising user data and system integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the SharePoint Foundation's list view rendering functionality. When users navigate to SharePoint pages that utilize the inplview.aspx handler, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied parameters that are incorporated into dynamic web content. This inadequate sanitization process creates an environment where attacker-controlled JavaScript code can be injected and subsequently executed by unsuspecting users who access the compromised SharePoint pages. The vulnerability specifically manifests when URL parameters containing JavaScript sequences are processed by the SharePoint foundation's rendering engine, allowing for the injection of malicious scripts that persist in the user's browser context.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations utilizing SharePoint Foundation 2010 environments. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform session hijacking, steal authentication cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, or execute unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks including data exfiltration, privilege escalation, and establishment of persistent backdoors within the SharePoint environment. Given that SharePoint Foundation 2010 was widely deployed across enterprise environments, this vulnerability could affect numerous organizations simultaneously, making it a prime target for mass exploitation campaigns.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in software applications, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with the attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique of Web Application Attack. Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Microsoft security patches, implementing proper input validation controls, and deploying web application firewalls to filter malicious requests. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing content security policies to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts and conduct thorough security assessments of SharePoint environments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components. The remediation process should also include user education regarding the dangers of clicking suspicious links and the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches across all SharePoint infrastructure components.