CVE-2012-0899 in Annuaire PHP
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in referencement/sites_inscription.php in Annuaire PHP allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the url parameter and possibly the nom parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0899 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Annuaire PHP application's sites_inscription.php component. This security weakness resides in the application's handling of user-supplied input parameters, specifically the url and nom parameters, which are processed without adequate sanitization or validation mechanisms. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, making it a significant threat to web application security and user data integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly escape or filter user input before incorporating it into dynamic web page content. When an attacker submits malicious script code through the url parameter or potentially the nom parameter, the application processes this input directly into the HTML response without appropriate encoding or validation. This allows attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content that executes in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it enables attackers to bypass standard security measures that protect against malicious code execution, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the compromised user's browser.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited across multiple user sessions. Attackers can craft malicious URLs that, when clicked by unsuspecting users, execute unauthorized code in their browser context. This could result in unauthorized access to user accounts, data exfiltration, or the modification of web content displayed to other users. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and highlights the critical importance of implementing proper output encoding and sanitization techniques. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566.001 for Phishing, as it enables attackers to deliver malicious payloads through web-based attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-0899 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input through proper escaping techniques before incorporating it into web page content. This includes implementing proper HTML entity encoding for all dynamic content, utilizing parameterized queries where applicable, and establishing robust input validation rules that reject suspicious patterns. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities, deploy web application firewalls to detect and block malicious input patterns, and conduct regular security testing including automated scanning and manual penetration testing. Additionally, developers should follow secure coding practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and ensure proper error handling that does not expose sensitive system information to end users. The vulnerability underscores the critical need for defense-in-depth strategies that combine multiple security controls to protect against various attack vectors while maintaining application functionality and user experience.