CVE-2012-1215 in Yoono For Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Add friends module in the Yoono extension before 7.7.8 for Firefox allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the create field in a "Create a group" action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/23/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-1215 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Yoono Firefox extension's friend management functionality. This security weakness specifically affects versions prior to 7.7.8 and resides in the "Add friends" module where users can create groups through a web interface. The vulnerability manifests when attackers exploit the create field within the "Create a group" action, enabling them to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code into the application's user interface.
This XSS vulnerability operates through a client-side attack vector where malicious input is not properly sanitized or validated before being rendered back to users. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of victims. The attack requires no special privileges and can be executed through simple web-based payloads that are embedded within the group creation form.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks within the browser environment. When users interact with the compromised group creation functionality, their browsers execute the injected scripts, potentially compromising their entire browsing session. This type of vulnerability can be particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may have elevated privileges or access to sensitive data through the Yoono extension. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79, which defines cross-site scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is used to generate web content without proper validation or escaping.
From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving client-side code injection and session manipulation. The attack surface is primarily through the web interface elements of the Firefox extension, making it a prime target for social engineering campaigns where attackers might convince users to create malicious groups or manipulate existing ones. The vulnerability's exploitation is straightforward and does not require complex attack chains, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently interact with group creation features.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate patching of the Yoono extension to version 7.7.8 or later, where proper input sanitization has been implemented. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious script injection attempts, and conduct regular security assessments of browser extensions in use. Additionally, user education regarding the dangers of creating groups with untrusted input and the importance of keeping browser extensions updated can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web applications and highlights how seemingly simple features like group creation can become attack vectors when proper security measures are not implemented.