CVE-2012-1188 in Fork
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Fork CMS before 3.2.7 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) type or (2) querystring parameters to private/en/error or (3) name parameter to private/en/locale/index.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1188 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Fork CMS versions prior to 3.2.7. This vulnerability exists within the content management system's handling of user-supplied input parameters, creating an avenue for remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of other users' browsers. The flaw manifests through three distinct parameter injection points that collectively undermine the application's security posture and user data integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Fork CMS framework. Attackers can exploit the vulnerability by manipulating the type or querystring parameters when accessing the private/en/error endpoint, or by injecting malicious content through the name parameter at private/en/locale/index. These injection points fail to properly sanitize user input, allowing attackers to embed malicious JavaScript code or HTML content that executes when other users access the affected pages. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize user input, specifically in the context of web application security.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-1188 extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user information, redirect users to malicious websites, or even escalate privileges within the CMS environment. When exploited, these XSS vulnerabilities can compromise user sessions and facilitate more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft or data exfiltration. The vulnerability affects the core authentication and localization components of the CMS, making it particularly dangerous as it can impact users accessing administrative interfaces or localized content management features.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, including immediate patching to version 3.2.7 or later where the XSS protections have been properly implemented. Input validation should be strengthened at all entry points, with proper HTML escaping and context-aware output encoding applied to prevent script execution. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1566 as a credential access technique, while the remediation approach aligns with defensive techniques such as T1590 for reconnaissance and T1071 for application layer protocols. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers and regular security audits to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of their web applications.