CVE-2012-1600 in openSUSE
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in functions.php in phpPgAdmin before 5.0.4 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) name or (2) type of a function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1600 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the phpPgAdmin application ecosystem, specifically targeting the functions.php component in versions prior to 5.0.4. This vulnerability exposes the application to remote code execution risks through malicious input injection, creating a significant security exposure for database administrators who rely on phpPgAdmin for PostgreSQL database management. The flaw resides in the application's handling of user-supplied input during function creation and modification processes, where insufficient sanitization permits attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the phpPgAdmin framework. Attackers can exploit this weakness by manipulating the name or type parameters of database functions through carefully crafted malicious payloads. When these parameters are processed and rendered in the web interface without proper sanitization, the injected scripts execute in the browser context of authenticated users, potentially leading to session hijacking, data exfiltration, or privilege escalation. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and demonstrates the classic pattern of insufficient input validation combined with inadequate output encoding.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-1600 extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with a foothold for more sophisticated attacks within the database administration environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially access sensitive database information, modify function definitions, or even escalate privileges within the database management interface. The attack vector requires remote access to the phpPgAdmin web interface and relies on the victim user having active sessions with elevated privileges. This creates a scenario where database administrators become unwitting participants in executing malicious code, making the attack particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where phpPgAdmin is commonly used for database administration tasks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate patching to phpPgAdmin version 5.0.4 or later, which incorporates proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation for all user-supplied data, particularly in administrative interfaces where database functions are manipulated. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, while regular security audits of web applications should include thorough testing for XSS vulnerabilities in all input handling components. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and adheres to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script injection, highlighting the need for robust application security controls in database management interfaces.