CVE-2012-1048 in Efront Community ++
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in communityplusplus/www/administrator.php in eFront Community++ edition 3.6.10, and possibly other editions, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the filter parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1048 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the eFront Community++ learning management system version 3.6.10 and potentially other iterations. This security weakness resides in the administrator.php file located within the communityplusplus/www directory structure, making it accessible through the web application's administrative interface. The flaw specifically manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input submitted through the filter parameter, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the application's codebase. When administrators or authenticated users interact with the administrative interface and utilize the filter functionality, the system processes the input without sufficient sanitization measures. This processing failure creates a persistent XSS vector that can be exploited by remote attackers who craft malicious payloads designed to execute within the victim's browser session. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no special privileges to exploit, as it targets the administrative interface that may be accessed by legitimate users with appropriate permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive administrative credentials, or manipulate the application's functionality. An attacker could potentially inject malicious scripts that redirect users to phishing sites, steal cookies containing session information, or even modify administrative settings through the compromised interface. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire learning management system, particularly compromising the administrative controls that manage user accounts, course content, and system configurations. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive educational data and potentially compromise the entire platform's security posture.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-1048 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected eFront Community++ versions, with administrators implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The solution involves implementing strict sanitization of all user inputs, particularly those passed through parameters like filter, and ensuring that all dynamic content is properly escaped before rendering in web pages. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies to limit script execution, employ web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, and conduct regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a common vector exploited under ATT&CK technique T1059.101 for command and scripting interpreter execution, emphasizing the need for comprehensive input validation and output encoding practices throughout the application development lifecycle to prevent such persistent security weaknesses.