CVE-2012-1296 in Elefantcms
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in apps/admin/handlers/preview.php in Elefant CMS 1.0.x before 1.0.2-Beta and 1.1.x before 1.1.5-Beta allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) title or (2) body parameter to admin/preview.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/20/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1296 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Elefant Content Management System affecting versions prior to 1.0.2-Beta and 1.1.5-Beta. This vulnerability exists in the admin/handlers/preview.php component which processes user input through HTTP parameters, creating an attack surface where malicious actors can inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content. The flaw specifically impacts two parameter fields: title and body, both of which are processed without adequate input sanitization or output encoding mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly validate and sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it within the administrative preview interface. When administrators access the preview functionality, the system directly incorporates the title and body parameters into the HTML output without appropriate context-aware encoding or filtering. This design flaw aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding. The vulnerability operates at the application layer where user input transitions into executable code within the browser context of authenticated administrators.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it provides attackers with a potential pathway for privilege escalation and persistent malicious activities. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of an authenticated administrator's browser session. This creates opportunities for session hijacking, data exfiltration, and further exploitation within the compromised administrative environment. The attack vector requires minimal privileges since the vulnerability exists in the administrative preview handler, making it particularly dangerous for systems where administrators frequently preview content. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, as attackers can leverage the vulnerability to execute malicious scripts in the browser context.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-1296 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Elefant CMS installations to versions 1.0.2-Beta or 1.1.5-Beta where the vulnerability has been resolved. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms across all administrative interfaces, particularly focusing on the preview functionality. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection layers against XSS exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct thorough code reviews of all administrative handlers to identify similar input validation gaps, while also implementing proper parameter sanitization and context-aware encoding for all user-supplied content. Regular vulnerability assessments and security monitoring of administrative interfaces remain essential to prevent similar issues from emerging in future versions.