CVE-2012-1507 in OrangeHRM
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in OrangeHRM before 2.7 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) newHspStatus parameter to plugins/ajaxCalls/haltResumeHsp.php, (2) sortOrder1 parameter to templates/hrfunct/emppop.php, or (3) uri parameter to index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/07/2025
The CVE-2012-1507 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in OrangeHRM versions prior to 2.7, exposing organizations to significant web application security risks. This vulnerability manifests through three distinct attack vectors within the OrangeHRM platform, which is a widely used human resources management system. The affected parameters include newHspStatus in plugins/ajaxCalls/haltResumeHsp.php, sortOrder1 in templates/hrfunct/emppop.php, and uri in index.php, all of which fail to properly sanitize user input before processing. These vulnerabilities fall under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically representing stored and reflected XSS attacks that can be exploited by remote attackers without requiring authentication. The attack surface is particularly concerning given OrangeHRM's role in managing sensitive employee data and its widespread adoption in enterprise environments.
The technical exploitation of these vulnerabilities occurs when malicious actors manipulate the specified parameters to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content into the application's response. When the vulnerable parameters are processed without proper input validation or output encoding, the injected scripts execute in the context of other users' browsers who access the affected pages. This creates a persistent threat where attackers can establish sessions, steal cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects core functionality of the HRM system, including employee management and system navigation components, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges or access sensitive personnel information. The reflected nature of some of these vulnerabilities means that successful exploitation can occur through social engineering tactics where users are tricked into clicking malicious links.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-1507 extends beyond simple data theft, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity and confidentiality of the HRM system. Organizations using vulnerable versions of OrangeHRM face risks of unauthorized access to employee records, payroll information, and sensitive personal data that could be exploited for identity theft or corporate espionage. The vulnerability also enables attackers to manipulate the application's behavior, potentially disrupting business operations or creating backdoors for future attacks. Given that OrangeHRM systems often contain privileged user accounts and administrative interfaces, successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise. The attack vectors are easily accessible through standard web application penetration testing methodologies, making the vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors who may leverage it for broader network infiltration or as part of credential stuffing attacks against other systems.
Organizations should immediately implement multiple layers of mitigation for this vulnerability. The primary recommendation involves upgrading to OrangeHRM version 2.7 or later, which includes proper input validation and output encoding fixes. Additionally, implementing proper parameter validation and sanitization techniques using established security frameworks can help prevent similar issues. Network-based protections such as web application firewalls should be configured to monitor and block malicious requests targeting these specific parameters. Regular security assessments and input validation testing should be conducted to identify potential similar vulnerabilities in other components of the system. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for script injection techniques, highlighting the need for comprehensive defensive measures including application security testing, secure coding practices, and user awareness training to prevent successful exploitation attempts.