CVE-2012-1028 in SimpleGroupware
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in bin/index.php in SimpleGroupware 0.742 and other versions before 0.743 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the export parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/18/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1028 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within SimpleGroupware version 0.742 and earlier releases, specifically affecting the bin/index.php script. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws. The issue manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input received through the export parameter, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the application's response. The flaw exists in the application's input validation mechanisms, where the export parameter is directly incorporated into the output without adequate sanitization or encoding.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a remote attacker crafts a malicious payload and submits it through the export parameter in the bin/index.php script. The application processes this input without proper validation, resulting in the execution of malicious code within the context of other users' browsers who view the affected page. This type of vulnerability enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, defacement of web pages, theft of sensitive information, and redirection to malicious websites. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to inject code that executes in the victim's browser with the privileges of the authenticated user, potentially leading to complete account compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-1028 extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it fundamentally undermines the trust model of web applications and can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks within the context of a compromised user session. Attackers can use this vulnerability to steal session cookies, which would allow them to impersonate legitimate users and gain unauthorized access to sensitive data and functionality. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 for initial access through spearphishing and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage, as attackers can establish persistent access through the injected scripts. Organizations using SimpleGroupware versions prior to 0.743 face significant risk of data breaches, as this vulnerability can be exploited through simple web requests without requiring special privileges or complex attack vectors.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to SimpleGroupware version 0.743 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the input validation flaw in the export parameter handling. Additionally, organizations should implement proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms, following the principle of least privilege and defense in depth. Security measures should include implementing Content Security Policy headers, regular security code reviews, and input validation that strictly filters or encodes all user-supplied data before processing. Organizations should also consider deploying web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious parameter values in their web application logs to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing robust input validation as fundamental security controls to prevent such widespread and impactful security flaws in web applications.