CVE-2012-1224 in ContentLion Alpha
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in system/classes/login.php in ContentLion Alpha 1.3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the PATH_INFO.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-1224 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw that exists within the ContentLion Alpha 1.3 web application framework. This particular issue manifests in the system/classes/login.php file where the application fails to properly sanitize input parameters derived from the PATH_INFO server variable. The PATH_INFO parameter contains additional path information that is appended to the URL after a question mark or slash, and when this data is not adequately validated or escaped, it creates an opportunity for malicious actors to inject harmful scripts into the application's response.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL that includes script code within the PATH_INFO portion of the request. When the ContentLion application processes this request through the login.php class, it incorporates the unsanitized PATH_INFO data directly into the HTML response without proper output encoding or validation. This allows attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or other malicious activities. The vulnerability specifically falls under CWE-79 which categorizes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a direct instance of cross-site scripting.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with a foothold for more sophisticated attacks within the application's user base. When users browse to malicious URLs containing crafted PATH_INFO parameters, their browsers execute the injected scripts, which can redirect them to phishing sites, steal session cookies, or modify the application interface to deceive users. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it leverages the PATH_INFO mechanism, which is commonly used in web applications for routing and can be easily manipulated without requiring authentication or complex exploitation techniques. This vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 sub-technique for script injection, where adversaries use web application vulnerabilities to execute malicious code.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase. The immediate fix involves sanitizing all input parameters including PATH_INFO data before incorporating them into web page responses. Developers should implement proper HTML escaping routines and utilize established security libraries that automatically handle output encoding based on the context where data is rendered. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of defense by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security code reviews and input validation testing, particularly for applications that utilize server variables like PATH_INFO for routing or parameter handling. Organizations should establish secure coding practices that prevent the direct use of user-supplied data in dynamic content generation without proper sanitization and validation checks.