CVE-2012-1935 in Newscoop
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Newscoop 3.5.x before 3.5.5 and 4.x before 4 RC4 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) Back parameter to admin/ad.php, or the (2) token or (3) f_email parameter to admin/password_check_token.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1935 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness affecting Newscoop content management systems version 3.5.x prior to 3.5.5 and version 4.x prior to 4 RC4. This flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected applications, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity. The vulnerability manifests through three distinct parameter injection points within the administrative interface, creating multiple attack vectors that threat actors can exploit to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system components.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the Newscoop administrative scripts. Specifically, the Back parameter in admin/ad.php, along with the token and f_email parameters in admin/password_check_token.php, fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing or rendering. This insufficient data handling creates opportunities for attackers to inject malicious payloads that execute in the browsers of unsuspecting users who interact with the compromised administrative interfaces. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a critical weakness in web applications due to improper validation of input data.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-1935 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal administrative credentials, or manipulate content management functions. When exploited, these vulnerabilities allow unauthorized users to bypass authentication mechanisms and gain elevated privileges within the Newscoop system. The attack vectors are particularly concerning because they target administrative interfaces where users possess elevated permissions, potentially leading to complete system compromise. Attackers can leverage these vulnerabilities to redirect users to malicious sites, capture session cookies, or inject persistent malicious code that maintains access across multiple user sessions.
Security professionals should implement comprehensive mitigation strategies including immediate patch deployment to update Newscoop installations to versions 3.5.5 or 4 RC4 and later. Input validation should be strengthened across all administrative endpoints to ensure proper sanitization of all user-supplied parameters before processing. Additionally, implementing content security policies and output encoding mechanisms can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to the principle of least privilege in administrative interfaces, as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's web application attack patterns. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments of their web applications to identify similar input validation weaknesses that could be exploited through similar attack vectors.