CVE-2012-1000 in Lepton
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in LEPTON 1.1.3 and other versions before 1.1.4 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) message parameter to admins/login/forgot/index.php, or the (2) display_name or (3) email parameter to account/preferences.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/04/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1000 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting LEPTON content management system versions prior to 1.1.4. This vulnerability manifests through three distinct attack vectors within the application's administrative interface, creating multiple pathways for malicious actors to execute unauthorized code execution against unsuspecting users. The primary concern lies in the improper sanitization of user input parameters, which allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that persist within the application's data handling mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the LEPTON framework's authentication and user management components. Specifically, the message parameter in the admins/login/forgot/index.php file fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data, while the display_name and email parameters in account/preferences.php suffer from similar weaknesses. These parameters are directly incorporated into web page responses without appropriate HTML escaping or script validation, creating conditions where attacker-controlled input can be executed as client-side scripts within the victim's browser context. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79 which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper validation or escaping.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive authentication credentials, and potentially escalate privileges within the compromised system. An attacker could craft malicious payloads that redirect users to phishing sites, steal cookies containing session information, or even execute malicious commands on behalf of authenticated users. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that these vulnerabilities exist within core administrative functions, potentially allowing unauthorized access to sensitive system configurations and user data management interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-1000 require immediate implementation of input sanitization measures across all affected parameters within the LEPTON framework. Organizations should prioritize updating to version 1.1.4 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the XSS vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing proper HTML escaping mechanisms for all user-supplied input, establishing content security policies, and conducting regular security assessments of web applications can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. The remediation process should also include thorough code review of input handling procedures and implementation of automated testing for XSS vulnerabilities as part of the development lifecycle. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and the potential consequences of failing to address known vulnerabilities in web applications. The attack patterns associated with this vulnerability align with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers credential harvesting through phishing and social engineering methods, making proper input validation essential for preventing both automated and targeted attacks against user sessions and system integrity.