CVE-2012-1990 in Kerweb
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Schneider Electric Kerweb before 3.0.1 and Kerwin before 6.0.1 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) the evtvariablename parameter in an evts.xml action to kw.dll, (2) unspecified search fields, or (3) unspecified content-display fields.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2025
The CVE-2012-1990 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Schneider Electric's Kerweb and Kerwin web-based management interfaces prior to versions 3.0.1 and 6.0.1 respectively. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web application's processing of user-supplied data, creating persistent security weaknesses that can be exploited by remote attackers without requiring authentication or privileged access. The affected systems operate within industrial control environments where web interfaces provide administrative access to critical infrastructure components, making these vulnerabilities particularly concerning from a cybersecurity perspective.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through three distinct attack vectors that all share the common flaw of insufficient sanitization of user input before rendering in web responses. The primary vector involves manipulation of the evtvariablename parameter within the evts.xml action directed at the kw.dll component, where attackers can inject malicious script code that executes in the context of authenticated users' browsers. Additionally, unspecified search fields and content-display fields within the web interface remain vulnerable to similar injection attacks, suggesting broader architectural weaknesses in the application's data handling mechanisms. These vulnerabilities map directly to CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to properly encode or escape user-controllable data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-1990 extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as these XSS vulnerabilities can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities within the compromised environment. An attacker could potentially steal administrative credentials, modify configuration settings, redirect users to phishing sites, or even execute arbitrary commands on the affected systems. In industrial control environments, this could lead to operational technology disruption, data integrity compromise, or unauthorized access to critical infrastructure management systems. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can leverage these flaws from outside the network perimeter, potentially enabling lateral movement and escalation of privileges within the industrial control network architecture.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-1990 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to versions 3.0.1 and 6.0.1 where available, as these releases contain the necessary fixes for the identified XSS vulnerabilities. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures across all web applications, particularly focusing on the specific parameter names and field types identified in the vulnerability. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth layers to detect and block malicious payloads attempting to exploit these vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1059.007: Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, highlighting the importance of monitoring for malicious script execution patterns and implementing strict content security policies to prevent unauthorized code execution in web browser contexts. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other industrial control system components and ensure comprehensive protection against similar attack vectors.