CVE-2012-1199 in Basic Analysis
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple PHP remote file inclusion vulnerabilities in Basic Analysis and Security Engine (BASE) 1.4.5 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via a URL in the (1) BASE_path parameter to base_ag_main.php, (2) base_db_setup.php, (3) base_graph_common.php, (4) base_graph_display.php, (5) base_graph_form.php, (6) base_graph_main.php, (7) base_local_rules.php, (8) base_logout.php, (9) base_main.php, (10) base_maintenance.php, (11) base_payload.php, (12) base_qry_alert.php, (13) base_qry_common.php, (14) base_qry_main.php, (15) base_stat_alerts.php, (16) base_stat_class.php, (17) base_stat_common.php, (18) base_stat_ipaddr.php, (19) base_stat_iplink.php, (20) base_stat_ports.php, (21) base_stat_sensor.php, (22) base_stat_time.php, (23) base_stat_uaddr.php, (24) base_user.php, (25) index.php, (26) admin/base_roleadmin.php, (27) admin/base_useradmin.php, (28) admin/index.php, (29) help/base_setup_help.php, (30) includes/base_action.inc.php, (31) includes/base_cache.inc.php, (32) includes/base_db.inc.php, (33) includes/base_db.inc.php, (34) includes/base_include.inc.php, (35) includes/base_output_html.inc.php, (36) includes/base_output_query.inc.php, (37) includes/base_state_criteria.inc.php, (38) includes/base_state_query.inc.php or (39) setup/base_conf_contents.php; (40) GLOBALS[user_session_path] parameter to includes/base_state_common.inc.php; (41) BASE_Language parameter to setup/base_conf_contents.php; or (42) ado_inc_php parameter to setup/setup2.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/24/2024
The CVE-2012-1199 vulnerability represents a critical remote file inclusion flaw in the Basic Analysis and Security Engine (BASE) version 1.4.5, a widely used security information and event management (SIEM) tool. This vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization within the application's parameter handling mechanisms, creating multiple attack vectors across various script files. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious URLs into vulnerable parameters, potentially executing arbitrary PHP code on the target system. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of BASE by enabling unauthorized code execution through carefully crafted HTTP requests that manipulate the application's include statements. The affected parameters span across multiple core components including main application files, administrative interfaces, help documentation, and configuration setup scripts, indicating a systemic issue in the application's input handling architecture.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of HTTP parameters that are directly used in PHP include or require statements without proper validation. When an attacker supplies a malicious URL in any of the affected parameters, the application processes this input and attempts to include the remote file, effectively executing the attacker's code within the context of the web server. This type of vulnerability is classified as a remote file inclusion (RFI) attack pattern, which aligns with CWE-88 and CWE-94 categories in the Common Weakness Enumeration taxonomy. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects multiple entry points within the application, providing attackers with numerous opportunities to achieve successful exploitation. The inclusion of administrative and setup scripts in the attack surface makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could potentially provide attackers with elevated privileges or complete system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-1199 extends beyond simple code execution, as it fundamentally undermines the security posture of systems running vulnerable BASE installations. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain unauthorized access to sensitive security data, manipulate log analysis capabilities, and potentially establish persistent backdoors within the network monitoring infrastructure. The vulnerability's presence in configuration and setup files means that attackers could modify critical application settings, inject malicious code into legitimate system processes, or redirect users to malicious sites. This type of attack vector aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) categories. The widespread nature of affected files suggests that a single successful exploitation attempt could compromise multiple aspects of the security monitoring environment, potentially affecting the integrity of security events and threat detection capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-1199 should focus on immediate patching of the BASE application to version 1.4.6 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the remote file inclusion vulnerabilities. Organizations should implement input validation measures to prevent malicious URLs from being processed in any of the affected parameters, including the use of allowlists for acceptable input values and strict validation of URL formats. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to the BASE application's administrative interfaces and setup scripts. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious patterns in HTTP requests that attempt to include external resources, and the application should be configured to disable remote file inclusion features entirely. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and security headers can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other applications within the organization's infrastructure, as this vulnerability pattern is commonly found in legacy web applications that have not received proper security updates. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of keeping security tools updated and implementing proper input validation mechanisms to prevent attackers from exploiting common web application flaws.