CVE-2012-0895 in Count Per Day
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in map/map.php in the Count Per Day module before 3.1.1 for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the map parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2025
The CVE-2012-0895 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Count Per Day WordPress module, a widely used plugin for tracking website traffic and visitor statistics. This vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to 3.1.1 and resides in the map/map.php file, making it accessible to malicious actors who can exploit the insecure handling of user input through the map parameter. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79, which defines cross-site scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper validation or sanitization, creating opportunities for attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of the victim's browser.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing script code within the map parameter and delivers it to unsuspecting users. When victims access the compromised page, the malicious script executes in their browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices where user-supplied data is directly embedded into the web page response without appropriate sanitization or encoding mechanisms. This flaw exploits the fundamental principle that all user input should be treated as untrusted and properly escaped before being rendered in web contexts, as mandated by secure coding practices and web application security standards.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent presence on compromised websites and potentially compromise entire user sessions. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal cookies, modify content, or redirect users to phishing sites, making it particularly dangerous for websites that rely on user authentication or handle sensitive information. The vulnerability affects WordPress installations using the Count Per Day module, which was popular for its analytics capabilities and simple interface, making it a common target for exploitation. According to ATT&CK framework category TA0001, this vulnerability enables initial access through malicious web content, while TA0002 covers privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms that attackers might employ once they gain a foothold.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-0895 should prioritize immediate patching of the Count Per Day module to version 3.1.1 or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures, including proper HTML escaping of all user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages, and employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit script execution capabilities. Additionally, administrators should conduct regular security audits of installed WordPress plugins, maintain up-to-date software versions, and implement web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests targeting known vulnerable parameters. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in preventing XSS attacks, with industry best practices emphasizing the need for defense-in-depth approaches that combine multiple security controls to protect web applications from such persistent threats.