CVE-2012-10024 in Media Center
Summary
by MITRE • 08/05/2025
XBMC version 11.0 contains a path traversal vulnerability in its embedded HTTP server. When accessed via HTTP Basic Authentication, the server fails to properly sanitize URI input, allowing authenticated users to request files outside the intended document root. An attacker can exploit this flaw to read arbitrary files from the host filesystem, including sensitive configuration or credential files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/26/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-10024 affects XBMC version 11 and its subsequent nightly builds up to November 4, 2012, representing a critical path traversal flaw within the media center application's embedded HTTP server implementation. This vulnerability specifically manifests when the server operates under HTTP Basic Authentication credentials, creating a scenario where authenticated users can manipulate URI requests to access files beyond the designated document root directory. The flaw stems from inadequate input sanitization mechanisms within the server's URI processing logic, allowing maliciously crafted requests to bypass normal file access controls and traverse the file system hierarchy.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of Uniform Resource Identifier inputs passed to the embedded HTTP server component. When an authenticated user submits a URI request containing specially crafted path traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\, the server fails to properly validate or sanitize these inputs before processing file system requests. This weakness enables attackers to navigate the file system structure and access files that should remain restricted to authorized users or system administrators. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple file reading capabilities, as it can potentially expose sensitive configuration files, credential storage locations, and other system data that may contain authentication tokens, user information, or system settings that could be leveraged for further attacks.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability represents a significant security risk for systems running affected XBMC versions, particularly in environments where the media center application serves as a network-accessible service. The authenticated nature of the exploit means that attackers must first obtain valid credentials, but once achieved, they can leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to system files that may contain sensitive information. The implications extend to potential privilege escalation scenarios where attackers could access administrative configuration files or other system resources that could facilitate further compromise of the affected system. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-22 Path Traversal and falls under the ATT&CK technique T1083 File and Directory Discovery, as it enables adversaries to enumerate and access files outside the intended application scope.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through software updates to versions that address the path traversal flaw in the embedded HTTP server component. System administrators should implement strict access controls and authentication mechanisms to minimize the risk of unauthorized access to the XBMC service. Additionally, network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to limit access to the XBMC service to trusted networks only, reducing the attack surface for potential exploitation. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other embedded systems or applications that may be vulnerable to similar path traversal attacks. The implementation of proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the HTTP server component serves as a critical defensive measure against this class of vulnerability, ensuring that URI requests are properly validated before any file system operations are performed.