CVE-2012-1781 in SocialCMS
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in ajax/commentajax.php in SocialCMS 1.0.5 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) TREF_email_address or (2) TR_name parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/16/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1781 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the SocialCMS content management system version 1.0.5. This issue specifically targets the ajax/commentajax.php component which processes user comments and interactions. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly filter malicious user-supplied data before incorporating it into web responses. Attackers can exploit this weakness by manipulating the TREF_email_address and TR_name parameters through crafted HTTP requests, enabling them to inject arbitrary HTML and JavaScript code that executes in the context of other users' browsers. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security weakness that allows attackers to execute scripts in the victim's browser session.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it provides attackers with persistent access to user sessions and potential privilege escalation opportunities. When users view affected comment sections, the malicious scripts execute automatically, potentially stealing cookies, session tokens, or redirecting users to phishing sites. The vulnerability affects the core commenting functionality of SocialCMS, making it particularly dangerous as it targets user-generated content that is frequently accessed and shared. This weakness enables attackers to perform session hijacking, credential theft, and can serve as a launching point for more sophisticated attacks within the application's ecosystem. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no special privileges or authentication, making it accessible to any remote attacker who can submit comments to the affected system.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a prime example of insufficient input validation in web applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1566 for initial access through malicious inputs. The remediation approach must focus on implementing comprehensive input sanitization, output encoding, and proper parameter validation mechanisms. Organizations should immediately implement proper HTML escaping for all user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages, utilize secure coding practices for parameter handling, and consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to mitigate the impact of any remaining vulnerabilities. Additionally, regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other components of the application. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of addressing web application security at the development stage rather than relying solely on perimeter defenses, as the flaw exists within the application's core functionality and can persist across multiple user interactions.