CVE-2012-1861 in SharePoint
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 Gold and SP1, SharePoint Foundation 2010 Gold and SP1, and Office Web Apps 2010 Gold and SP1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via crafted JavaScript elements in a URL, aka "SharePoint Script in Username Vulnerability."
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/26/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1861 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting multiple Microsoft SharePoint products including SharePoint Server 2010, SharePoint Foundation 2010, and Office Web Apps 2010. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-provided data, particularly when processing usernames and URL parameters. The flaw specifically manifests when the system fails to properly encode or escape JavaScript elements within URL parameters, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which categorizes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a classic example of a server-side XSS attack vector.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection as it enables attackers to execute malicious code within the context of authenticated users' browsers. When a user visits a maliciously crafted URL containing the injected JavaScript, the script executes in their browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or data exfiltration. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages the trust relationship between the user and the SharePoint application, allowing attackers to exploit legitimate user sessions. Attackers can craft URLs that appear legitimate to users while containing malicious payloads designed to capture session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users. This attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which describes social engineering through spearphishing with malicious attachments or links.
Microsoft addressed this vulnerability through security updates that improved input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the SharePoint platform. The fix involved implementing stricter sanitization of URL parameters and username fields to prevent malicious JavaScript from being executed within the application context. Organizations should ensure their SharePoint environments are updated with the appropriate security patches and consider implementing additional security controls such as content security policies, input validation at multiple layers, and regular security assessments. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization in web applications and highlights how seemingly innocuous parameters like usernames can become attack vectors when not properly handled. Security professionals should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious URL patterns that may indicate attempts to exploit this or similar vulnerabilities.