CVE-2012-0988 in Knowledgetree Open Source
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in config/dmsDefaults.php in KnowledgeTree 3.7.0.2 and possibly earlier allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the PATH_INFO to (1) login.php, (2) admin.php, or (3) preferences.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/23/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0988 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting KnowledgeTree version 3.7.0.2 and potentially earlier releases. This vulnerability resides within the config/dmsDefaults.php file and demonstrates a classic input validation failure that enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of affected users' browsers. The flaw specifically manifests when the application processes PATH_INFO parameters without proper sanitization, creating an attack surface that can be exploited across multiple entry points in the application's authentication and administrative interfaces.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the PATH_INFO parameter in HTTP requests directed to three primary application endpoints: login.php, admin.php, and preferences.php. When these endpoints receive unvalidated PATH_INFO data, the application fails to properly escape or filter the input before rendering it in web responses. This allows attackers to inject malicious HTML or JavaScript code that executes in the victim's browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized administrative actions. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and demonstrates a failure in proper input sanitization and output encoding practices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent access to the application environment. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing XSS payloads that, when clicked by authenticated users, can steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform administrative actions on behalf of victims. The vulnerability affects the core authentication and administrative functionality of KnowledgeTree, potentially compromising the entire document management system. This represents a significant threat to data integrity and confidentiality, particularly in enterprise environments where document management systems contain sensitive information.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of mitigation to address this vulnerability. Input validation and sanitization mechanisms must be strengthened to properly filter all PATH_INFO parameters before processing. The application should employ proper output encoding techniques when rendering user-supplied data in web responses. Additionally, implementing a Content Security Policy (CSP) can provide additional protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious PATH_INFO patterns. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566 related to social engineering attacks through malicious links. Regular security assessments and input validation reviews should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities in future application development cycles.