CVE-2012-0873 in Dolphin
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Boonex Dolphin before 7.0.8 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) explain parameter to explanation.php or the (2) photos_only, (3) online_only, or (4) mode parameters to viewFriends.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0873 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness in Boonex Dolphin versions prior to 7.0.8, specifically affecting web applications that utilize this social networking platform framework. This vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions on behalf of victims. The flaw manifests through multiple entry points within the application's core functionality, making it particularly dangerous as attackers can exploit various parameters to deliver malicious payloads. The affected parameters include the explain parameter in explanation.php and three distinct parameters photos_only, online_only, and mode in viewFriends.php, all of which fail to properly sanitize user input before rendering it in web responses.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Boonex Dolphin framework. When these parameters receive user-supplied data without proper sanitization, the application directly incorporates the malicious input into HTML responses without adequate escaping or encoding. This failure to implement proper security controls creates an environment where attackers can inject arbitrary JavaScript code, HTML tags, or other malicious content that executes in the victim's browser context. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without adequate validation or escaping mechanisms. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires no privileged access or authentication, allowing remote exploitation from any location with internet connectivity.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-0873 extends beyond simple script execution, potentially enabling attackers to perform sophisticated attacks against users of affected applications. Successful exploitation could result in session fixation, cookie theft, redirection to malicious sites, or even complete account compromise if users are logged in with administrative privileges. The vulnerability affects the core social networking functionality of the platform, potentially compromising user privacy and data integrity across multiple user accounts. Given that Boonex Dolphin powers numerous social networking sites, the scope of potential impact is substantial, with each affected installation representing a potential attack surface for malicious actors. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers social engineering attacks that leverage web-based exploitation techniques to gain unauthorized access to systems or data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of input validation and output encoding controls across all affected parameters. Organizations should implement proper parameter sanitization to remove or escape potentially malicious content before processing user input. The recommended approach includes implementing strict input validation that rejects or filters out suspicious characters and patterns commonly associated with XSS attacks. Additionally, developers should employ output encoding mechanisms that convert special characters into their HTML-safe equivalents when rendering user-supplied data in web responses. The most effective remediation involves upgrading to Boonex Dolphin version 7.0.8 or later, which includes patches specifically designed to address these XSS vulnerabilities. Security teams should also implement comprehensive monitoring and logging of user input to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application stack.