CVE-2012-1099 in Ruby on Rails
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/form_options_helper.rb in the select helper in Ruby on Rails 3.0.x before 3.0.12, 3.1.x before 3.1.4, and 3.2.x before 3.2.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors involving certain generation of OPTION elements within SELECT elements.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2025
The CVE-2012-1099 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Ruby on Rails framework that specifically targets the form_options_helper component. This vulnerability exists in multiple versions of Rails including 3.0.x before 3.0.12, 3.1.x before 3.1.4, and 3.2.x before 3.2.2, making it a widespread concern for applications built on these framework versions. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of user input when generating OPTION elements within SELECT HTML elements, which are commonly used in web forms for dropdown menus and selection interfaces.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/form_options_helper.rb file where the select helper processes data to generate HTML OPTION tags. When developers use the select helper method in their Rails applications, the framework automatically creates OPTION elements based on provided data sources. The flaw manifests when user-supplied data containing malicious script code is processed through this helper without proper sanitization, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary HTML or JavaScript code into the generated SELECT elements. This occurs because the framework fails to properly escape or encode special characters that could be interpreted as executable code by web browsers when the HTML is rendered.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-1099 is significant as it enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of affected websites. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by manipulating input data that flows through the select helper, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of web applications, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through various vectors including form submissions, API endpoints, or any input that gets processed through the affected Rails helpers. This makes it a prime target for automated exploitation tools and increases the attack surface for organizations running vulnerable Rails applications. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious web content.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately upgrade to patched versions of Ruby on Rails including 3.0.12, 3.1.4, and 3.2.2 respectively, as these releases contain the necessary fixes to properly sanitize user input before generating OPTION elements. Additionally, developers should implement proper input validation and sanitization practices in their applications, ensuring that any data passed to the select helper is thoroughly escaped or encoded. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the vulnerable Rails versions within their infrastructure and prioritize remediation efforts. The patch addresses the root cause by implementing proper HTML escaping for all user-supplied data within the form_options_helper, preventing the injection of malicious scripts into generated SELECT elements. This vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of proper input sanitization in web frameworks and demonstrates how seemingly innocuous helper methods can become attack vectors when proper security measures are not implemented.