CVE-2012-1064 in RSA Archer GRC
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in EMC RSA Archer SmartSuite Framework 4.x and RSA Archer GRC 5.x before 5.2SP1 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/03/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1064 represents a critical security flaw affecting EMC RSA Archer SmartSuite Framework versions 4.x and RSA Archer GRC versions 5.x prior to 5.2SP1. This issue manifests as multiple cross-site scripting vulnerabilities that expose the affected systems to remote code execution risks through web-based attack vectors. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web application framework, creating opportunities for malicious actors to inject harmful scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
The technical flaw underlying CVE-2012-1064 resides in the insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data within the web application's request processing pipeline. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious input payloads that bypass the application's security controls and are subsequently executed in the context of other users' browsers. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically representing a variant where the malicious script executes in the victim's browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized data manipulation. The attack vectors remain unspecified in the original description, suggesting that multiple input points within the application's interface may be susceptible to exploitation.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-1064 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent access to compromised systems and escalate privileges within the application environment. Organizations utilizing affected RSA Archer versions face significant risks including unauthorized access to sensitive governance, risk, and compliance data, potential data exfiltration, and disruption of business continuity processes that rely on the platform's integrity. The vulnerability's remote nature means attackers can exploit it without requiring physical access to the network, making it particularly dangerous for enterprises with distributed user bases or cloud-based deployments. This weakness directly violates security principles of input validation and output encoding that are fundamental to preventing web application attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-1064 should prioritize immediate implementation of the vendor-provided security patches and updates, specifically targeting the 5.2SP1 release for RSA Archer GRC 5.x and corresponding framework updates for SmartSuite 4.x. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms, including strict sanitization of all user inputs and output encoding for all dynamic content. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional protective layers, while regular security assessments should verify the effectiveness of implemented controls. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution risk aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting languages and T1566.001 for spearphishing with attachments, emphasizing the need for layered defense mechanisms. Security teams should also consider implementing content security policies and regular vulnerability scanning to prevent similar issues from emerging in the future.