CVE-2012-2239 in Mahara
Summary
by MITRE
Mahara 1.4.x before 1.4.4 and 1.5.x before 1.5.3 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files or create TCP connections via an XML external entity (XXE) injection attack, as demonstrated by reading config.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/20/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2239 represents a critical XML external entity injection flaw affecting Mahara versions prior to 1.4.4 and 1.5.3. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-611 category, which specifically addresses XML external entity processing without proper restrictions. The flaw exists within the application's XML parsing functionality where external entities are not properly sanitized or restricted, creating an avenue for malicious actors to exploit the system through carefully crafted XML input.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows remote attackers to manipulate the XML processing behavior of the Mahara application by injecting malicious external entity declarations. When the application processes XML data containing these crafted entities, it can be induced to read arbitrary files from the server filesystem or establish outbound TCP connections to external hosts. The demonstration of this attack vector specifically shows the ability to read the config.php file, which typically contains sensitive database credentials, encryption keys, and other configuration data that could compromise the entire application infrastructure.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations utilizing affected Mahara versions. The ability to read arbitrary files means that attackers can potentially access sensitive configuration data, user credentials, and other system files that could lead to complete system compromise. The TCP connection creation capability extends the attack surface by allowing attackers to establish communication channels back to command and control servers or to probe internal network structures. This dual capability makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it enables both information disclosure and potential lateral movement within the network.
The attack surface is particularly concerning given that Mahara is typically used for educational institutions and organizations managing sensitive user data, making the potential impact of such an attack significant. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems, as the vulnerability exists in versions that were widely deployed and could be exploited by threat actors with minimal technical expertise. The mitigation strategy should include not only applying the vendor-provided patches but also implementing proper input validation and XML processing restrictions. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual outbound TCP connections that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers the use of external entities to gain unauthorized access to systems, and demonstrates the importance of proper XML security controls in web applications.