CVE-2012-1982 in SocialCMS
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in my_admin/admin1_list_pages.php in SocialCMS 1.0.2 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the TR_title parameter in an edit action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/16/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1982 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the SocialCMS content management system version 1.0.2 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically affects the my_admin/admin1_list_pages.php component, which serves as a backend administrative interface for managing website pages. The flaw exists in the handling of user input within the TR_title parameter during edit operations, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of authenticated user sessions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the administrative interface. When administrators or authorized users attempt to edit page titles through the TR_title parameter, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape the input data before rendering it back to the user interface. This omission creates a persistent XSS vector that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the browser context of authenticated users. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires only authentication privileges, meaning that attackers who have gained access to legitimate user accounts can exploit this flaw to compromise the entire administrative environment.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations using SocialCMS 1.0.2 or earlier versions. Attackers can leverage this XSS flaw to steal session cookies, redirect authenticated users to malicious websites, inject malware, or escalate privileges within the application. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and it can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 related to spearphishing attachments and T1566.002 for spearphishing via social media. The attack surface extends beyond simple script injection, as authenticated administrators may have elevated privileges that could be exploited to gain deeper access to system resources or sensitive data.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal technical sophistication, as attackers can craft malicious payloads that will execute automatically when authenticated users view the affected page listings. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where administrators frequently access administrative interfaces. Organizations should consider implementing comprehensive input validation measures, output encoding, and regular security audits of their web applications. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and implementing proper parameter validation, especially within administrative interfaces where elevated privileges exist. Immediate remediation efforts should include upgrading to patched versions of SocialCMS, implementing web application firewalls, and conducting thorough security assessments of all administrative components to prevent similar vulnerabilities from persisting in the application architecture.