CVE-2012-1110 in Etano
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Etano 1.22 and earlier allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) user, (2) email, (3) email2, (4) f17_zip, or (5) agree parameter to join.php; (6) PATH_INFO, (7) st, (8) f17_city, (9) f17_country, (10) f17_state, (11) f17_zip, (12) f19, (13) wphoto, (14) search, or (15) v parameter to search.php; (16) PATH_INFO or (17) st parameter to photo_search.php; or (18) return parameter to photo_view.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1110 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Etano 1.22 and earlier versions of the web application. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of user-supplied input across multiple endpoints, specifically targeting the join.php, search.php, photo_search.php, and photo_view.php scripts. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content into the application's response, creating persistent XSS attack vectors that can compromise user sessions and data integrity. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79, which describes the common weakness of insufficient input validation leading to XSS conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 for 'Modify Existing Service' through the injection of malicious code into web applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through improper sanitization of user input parameters across various HTTP request methods and server variables. Attackers can exploit the vulnerability by manipulating parameters such as user, email, email2, f17_zip, and agree in join.php, while also targeting PATH_INFO, st, f17_city, f17_country, f17_state, f17_zip, f19, wphoto, search, and v parameters in search.php. Additional attack vectors exist in photo_search.php through PATH_INFO and st parameters, and in photo_view.php via the return parameter. These parameters are processed without adequate validation or sanitization, allowing malicious payloads to be stored or executed within the web application's context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, creating significant risks for user confidentiality and application integrity. When exploited, these XSS vulnerabilities enable attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, redirect victims to malicious sites, or even install keyloggers and other persistent malware. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerable parameters are commonly used in registration, search, and photo viewing functionality, meaning that any user interacting with these features could become compromised. This vulnerability fundamentally undermines the trust model of the web application and can lead to account takeovers, data breaches, and unauthorized access to sensitive user information.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement input validation and output encoding measures across all affected endpoints. The recommended mitigation strategies include implementing strict parameter validation, employing context-appropriate output encoding for all user-supplied data, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads. Additionally, developers should adopt secure coding practices that prevent XSS vulnerabilities through proper input sanitization, including the use of Content Security Policy headers and implementing proper escape sequences for HTML, JavaScript, and URL contexts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and patch management, as this issue was resolved in later versions of the Etano application, demonstrating the critical need for maintaining up-to-date software components and following security best practices as outlined in OWASP Top 10 and NIST cybersecurity frameworks.