CVE-2012-1019 in XWiki Enterprise
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in XWiki Enterprise 3.4 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) XWiki.XWikiComments_comment parameter to xwiki/bin/commentadd/Main/WebHome, (2) XWiki.XWikiUsers_0_company parameter when editing a user profile, or (3) projectVersion parameter to xwiki/bin/view/DownloadCode/DownloadFeedback. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/28/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1019 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness affecting XWiki Enterprise version 3.4, exposing the platform to remote code execution risks through malicious web script injection. This vulnerability manifests across three distinct attack vectors within the application's web interface, each presenting unique pathways for attackers to compromise user sessions and potentially escalate privileges within the system. The presence of these flaws demonstrates a fundamental failure in input validation and output encoding mechanisms that are essential for preventing malicious code execution in web applications.
The technical exploitation of these XSS vulnerabilities occurs through specific parameter manipulation within the application's URL structure and form handling mechanisms. The first vector targets the XWiki.XWikiComments_comment parameter within the xwiki/bin/commentadd/Main/WebHome endpoint, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts when adding comments to wiki pages. The second vulnerability exists in the XWiki.XWikiUsers_0_company parameter during user profile editing operations, where unfiltered user input is directly embedded into the page output without proper sanitization. The third attack vector utilizes the projectVersion parameter in the xwiki/bin/view/DownloadCode/DownloadFeedback path, where similar input handling flaws permit script injection. These vulnerabilities align with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and demonstrate poor secure coding practices that fail to implement proper input validation and output encoding controls.
The operational impact of these vulnerabilities extends beyond simple script injection, as they can enable attackers to steal user sessions, redirect victims to malicious sites, deface web content, and potentially escalate privileges within the XWiki environment. When users interact with compromised pages, their browsers execute the injected malicious scripts, which can capture cookies, redirect navigation, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The attack surfaces provide persistent entry points for attackers to maintain access to the system and execute further malicious activities. According to ATT&CK framework category T1531, these vulnerabilities facilitate privilege escalation through session hijacking and credential theft, while T1203 covers the use of web application vulnerabilities for initial access and lateral movement within the network environment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-1019 require immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding measures across all user-facing parameters within the XWiki platform. Organizations should implement comprehensive parameter sanitization protocols that filter and encode all user-supplied data before processing or rendering within web pages. The recommended approach involves deploying Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, implementing proper HTML escaping for all dynamic content, and establishing strict input validation rules that reject suspicious character sequences. Additionally, regular security patching and vulnerability assessment programs should be maintained to prevent similar issues from emerging in future releases. The remediation process must include thorough code review of all user input handling mechanisms and implementation of automated testing procedures to detect similar vulnerabilities in the application's codebase. Organizations utilizing XWiki Enterprise should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect and prevent exploitation attempts against these known vulnerabilities.