CVE-2012-0047 in Wicket
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Apache Wicket 1.4.x before 1.4.20 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the wicket:pageMapName parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/25/2018
The CVE-2012-0047 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Apache Wicket framework versions 1.4.x prior to 1.4.20. This vulnerability specifically targets the wicket:pageMapName parameter, which serves as a mechanism for managing page mappings within the Wicket web application framework. The flaw arises from inadequate input validation and sanitization of user-supplied parameters, creating an exploitable vector that enables remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content directly into the application's response. Apache Wicket is a popular Java-based web application framework that emphasizes component-oriented development, making it widely adopted across enterprise applications where user input handling is critical for security.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the framework's insufficient sanitization of the wicket:pageMapName parameter during request processing. When users provide input through this parameter, the framework fails to properly escape or validate the content before incorporating it into the response, allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads that execute in the context of other users' browsers. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in software applications. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the framework level, meaning that applications built on Apache Wicket are inherently susceptible to this attack vector without proper mitigation measures. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary scripts, steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious websites.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-0047 extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling sophisticated attack chains that can compromise entire web applications and user sessions. When exploited, this vulnerability allows attackers to bypass standard security controls that rely on client-side validation, as the issue occurs server-side during parameter processing. The attack surface is particularly broad given Apache Wicket's widespread adoption in enterprise environments, where users may have elevated privileges or access to sensitive data. Organizations running vulnerable versions of Wicket applications face significant risk of data breaches, session hijacking, and potential lateral movement within their networks. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would place it within the Initial Access and Execution phases, specifically targeting the Web Application Attack Surface category. Security teams must consider that this vulnerability could be exploited in combination with other techniques, such as phishing campaigns or social engineering, to create more sophisticated attack scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-0047 primarily focus on immediate version upgrades to Apache Wicket 1.4.20 or later, which includes the necessary patches to address the input sanitization issues. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation at multiple layers, including application-level filtering and output encoding for all user-supplied parameters. Security headers such as Content Security Policy (CSP) can provide additional protection by limiting script execution and preventing unauthorized code injection. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in custom application code that may interact with the framework's parameter handling mechanisms. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and implementing robust security practices throughout the application development lifecycle, particularly in frameworks that handle user input directly. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems that can detect and block suspicious parameter values before they reach the application server.