CVE-2012-2246 in Mahara
Summary
by MITRE
Mahara 1.4.x before 1.4.5 and 1.5.x before 1.5.4 allows remote attackers to conduct clickjacking attacks to delete arbitrary users and bypass CSRF protection via account/delete.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/20/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2246 affects Mahara learning management systems version 1.4.x before 1.4.5 and 1.5.x before 1.5.4, presenting a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute clickjacking attacks against the system. This vulnerability specifically targets the account/delete.php endpoint, which serves as a critical administrative function for user account management within the platform. The flaw arises from insufficient protection mechanisms that fail to adequately validate user intentions when performing destructive actions, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate legitimate users into executing unauthorized operations without their knowledge or consent.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of proper anti-clickjacking controls and inadequate cross-site request forgery protection within the Mahara application's user deletion functionality. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious web pages that embed the vulnerable account/delete.php endpoint within invisible or deceptive frames, tricking users into performing unintended actions when they interact with seemingly benign content. This clickjacking technique leverages the browser's Same-Origin Policy limitations, allowing attackers to overlay transparent elements on top of legitimate interface components, making it appear as though users are performing normal operations while actually executing destructive commands. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-1021, which categorizes improper restriction of rendering of components across different security contexts, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for executing commands through web shells and T1566.001 for phishing attacks that exploit user trust.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data loss, as it enables attackers to delete arbitrary user accounts from the system, potentially disrupting educational processes, compromising user privacy, and undermining institutional trust in the platform. The bypass of CSRF protection mechanisms means that legitimate users who are authenticated to the system can be tricked into deleting accounts through maliciously crafted web pages, effectively granting attackers administrative capabilities without requiring credentials. This vulnerability particularly threatens educational institutions that rely on Mahara for managing student and faculty accounts, as unauthorized account deletions could result in permanent data loss, disruption of learning activities, and potential compliance violations. Organizations using affected versions of Mahara face significant risk of unauthorized access and account compromise, with the potential for cascading effects throughout the learning management ecosystem.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-2246 require immediate implementation of multiple security controls to address both the clickjacking and CSRF vulnerabilities. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to Mahara versions 1.4.5 or 1.5.4, which contain the necessary patches to prevent the exploitation of this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper Content Security Policy headers with X-Frame-Options directives can effectively prevent the embedding of vulnerable pages within malicious frames, while also adding X-Content-Type-Options and Strict-Transport-Security headers to enhance overall security posture. The system should also enforce robust CSRF token validation mechanisms that ensure all destructive operations require proper authentication tokens that are tied to the user's current session. Network-level protections including web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of defense by monitoring for suspicious patterns of requests to the vulnerable endpoint. Security awareness training for users can help reduce the risk of successful clickjacking attacks by educating them about recognizing potentially malicious web content and understanding the importance of verifying the authenticity of web pages before interacting with them. The implementation of these controls aligns with security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 requirements for access control and application security, ensuring comprehensive protection against similar vulnerabilities in the future.