CVE-2012-0790 in smokeping
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in smokeping_cgi in Smokeping 2.4.2, 2.6.6, and other versions before 2.6.7 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the displaymode parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/29/2021
The CVE-2012-0790 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the smokeping_cgi component of the Smokeping network monitoring tool. This vulnerability affects multiple versions including 2.4.2 and 2.6.6, with the issue being resolved in version 2.6.7. The flaw specifically resides in how the application processes the displaymode parameter, creating an avenue for remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code into the victim's browser environment. Smokeping is widely used for network latency monitoring and graphing, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for network administrators and security professionals who rely on the tool for infrastructure monitoring.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the smokeping_cgi script. When the displaymode parameter is processed without proper escaping or encoding of user-supplied data, malicious payloads can be executed within the context of a victim's browser session. This occurs because the application fails to properly sanitize or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. The vulnerability is classified as a classic reflected XSS attack vector where the malicious input is immediately reflected back to the user without proper sanitization, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the victim's browser context.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to network monitoring environments that utilize Smokeping. Attackers could leverage this flaw to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious websites. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it could enable attackers to establish persistent access to monitoring systems, potentially compromising network visibility and security monitoring capabilities. Network administrators who rely on Smokeping for critical infrastructure monitoring face elevated risk of unauthorized access to their monitoring dashboards and data. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where monitoring systems contain sensitive network topology information and performance data that could be exploited for further attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching to version 2.6.7 or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes. Organizations should also implement proper input sanitization measures and output encoding for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in dynamic content generation. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed. Network segmentation and monitoring of unusual traffic patterns can help detect exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and falls under ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious web content, highlighting the importance of proper web application security controls and input validation mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security assessments to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in other components of their monitoring infrastructure.