CVE-2012-0253 in Pluck SiteLife
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Demand Media Pluck SiteLife before 5.0.13 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) the jsonRequest parameter to Direct/Process, the (2) r or (3) cb parameter to Direct/jsonp.htm, or (4) the cb parameter to sys/jsonp.app/.htm.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/23/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0253 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Demand Media Pluck SiteLife software versions prior to 5.0.13. This vulnerability manifests through multiple attack vectors that collectively expose the application to remote code execution via malicious script injection. The flaw resides in the application's improper handling of user-supplied input parameters, specifically within the Direct/Process endpoint and various jsonp handlers. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79, which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is sent to a web browser without proper validation or sanitization, allowing attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of the victim's browser session.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through four distinct parameter injection points that collectively represent a sophisticated attack surface. The first vector involves the jsonRequest parameter within the Direct/Process endpoint, where malicious input can be injected and subsequently executed in the victim's browser context. The second and third vectors target the r and cb parameters respectively in the Direct/jsonp.htm endpoint, while the fourth vector operates through the cb parameter in sys/jsonp.app/.htm. These parameters are typically used for JSONP (JSON with Padding) functionality, which allows cross-domain data requests but becomes dangerous when input validation is insufficient. The attack requires no authentication and can be executed remotely, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that process user input without proper sanitization mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to perform a range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. When a victim visits a maliciously crafted page or interacts with compromised content, the injected scripts execute in the victim's browser, potentially stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or modifying the application's behavior. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the Pluck SiteLife platform, which is designed for content management and web publishing, making it particularly concerning for organizations relying on this software for their digital presence. The widespread nature of XSS vulnerabilities means that successful exploitation can lead to complete compromise of user sessions and potentially allow attackers to perform actions on behalf of legitimate users.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-0253 should prioritize immediate software updates to version 5.0.13 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the input validation flaws. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization mechanisms that filter and validate all user-supplied data before processing, particularly for parameters used in JSONP handlers. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring that JSONP endpoints do not accept untrusted input without proper validation. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against script injection attacks. Security teams should conduct thorough penetration testing to identify any remaining vulnerabilities in the application's input handling mechanisms and ensure that all parameters are properly sanitized. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script injection attacks, emphasizing the need for comprehensive web application security controls.