CVE-2012-2211 in eGroupware
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in phpgwapi/inc/common_functions_inc.php in eGroupware before 1.8.004.20120405 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the menuaction parameter to etemplate/process_exec.php. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2211 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the eGroupware web application platform, specifically affecting versions prior to 1.8.004.20120405. This vulnerability resides in the phpgwapi/inc/common_functions_inc.php file and manifests through the menuaction parameter in the etemplate/process_exec.php endpoint. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of authenticated users' browsers, creating a significant security risk for organizations utilizing this platform.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the eGroupware framework. When the menuaction parameter is processed through etemplate/process_exec.php without proper sanitization, the application fails to neutralize potentially malicious content that could contain script tags or other harmful HTML elements. This improper handling of user-supplied input creates an environment where attacker-controlled data can be executed as part of the web application's response, directly compromising the integrity of the user's browsing session.
From an operational perspective, this XSS vulnerability presents substantial risks to organizations deploying eGroupware systems. An attacker could exploit this flaw to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, redirect victims to malicious websites, or deface the application interface. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation does not require physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for web-based applications. The vulnerability essentially allows attackers to establish a foothold within the application that could serve as a launching point for further attacks or data exfiltration activities.
The impact of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a fundamental web application security weakness. This classification indicates that the flaw represents a well-known and widely documented security issue that has been extensively studied and documented within the cybersecurity community. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers script injection attacks, demonstrating how this flaw could be leveraged as part of broader attack chains targeting web applications. Organizations using vulnerable versions of eGroupware should prioritize immediate remediation through patching or implementing compensating controls.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-2211 should focus on upgrading to eGroupware version 1.8.004.20120405 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for this vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms that sanitize all user-supplied data before processing, employ output encoding techniques to neutralize potentially malicious content, and establish proper web application firewall rules to detect and block suspicious parameter values. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application's codebase, ensuring that the security posture remains robust against evolving threats.