CVE-2012-0144 in SharePoint
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in themeweb.aspx in Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2010 Gold and SP1 and 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 themeweb.aspx Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/20/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0144 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw located in the themeweb.aspx component of Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2010 and SharePoint Foundation 2010 across both Gold and SP1 releases. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically manifesting as a weakness in input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious JavaScript code within the context of a victim's browser session by manipulating URL parameters that are processed by the vulnerable themeweb.aspx page.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when user-supplied input containing JavaScript sequences is passed through URL parameters to the themeweb.aspx script without proper sanitization or encoding. When the SharePoint server processes these malicious inputs and renders them in the web page output, the embedded JavaScript code executes in the victim's browser context. This creates a persistent threat vector where attackers can craft malicious URLs that, when visited by unsuspecting users, automatically execute harmful scripts. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects core SharePoint functionality and can be leveraged to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious sites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains that align with multiple ATT&CK techniques including T1566 for phishing and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to create persistent backdoors, harvest sensitive authentication tokens, or establish command and control channels through the compromised SharePoint environment. The vulnerability affects organizations using SharePoint 2010 in production environments where users may inadvertently click on malicious links or be directed to compromised pages, potentially leading to full domain compromise and data exfiltration.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-0144 should include immediate application of Microsoft security patches and updates, particularly the cumulative updates released for SharePoint Server 2010. Organizations should implement robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms at the application level, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being processed or rendered in web pages. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to detect and block malicious URL patterns targeting this vulnerability. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their SharePoint environments to identify any other potential XSS vulnerabilities and implement proper security headers including Content Security Policy to limit script execution capabilities. Regular security awareness training for users can help prevent accidental exploitation through phishing campaigns that leverage this vulnerability.