CVE-2012-2269 in ownCloud
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in ownCloud before 3.0.3 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) an arbitrary field to apps/contacts/ajax/addcard.php, (2) the parameter parameter to apps/contacts/ajax/addproperty.php, (3) the name parameter to apps/contacts/ajax/createaddressbook, (4) the file parameter to files/download.php, or the (5) name, (6) user, or (7) redirect_url parameter to files/index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/31/2025
The CVE-2012-2269 vulnerability represents a significant cross-site scripting weakness in the ownCloud file sharing platform prior to version 3.0.3, exposing users to potential malicious code execution through multiple attack vectors. This vulnerability classifies under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize input data, creating persistent security gaps that could be exploited by remote attackers without requiring authentication. The vulnerability affects the core web application functionality and impacts user data integrity across multiple modules of the platform.
The technical flaw manifests through improper validation and sanitization of user-supplied parameters across several key endpoints within the ownCloud ecosystem. Attackers can exploit the vulnerability by injecting malicious scripts through the apps/contacts/ajax/addcard.php endpoint where arbitrary fields are not properly filtered, allowing code injection into contact management functionality. Additionally, the apps/contacts/ajax/addproperty.php endpoint suffers from parameter-based injection issues, while the apps/contacts/ajax/createaddressbook endpoint specifically targets the name parameter for malicious input. The files/download.php endpoint presents another vector through the file parameter, and the files/index.php endpoint contains three distinct parameters - name, user, and redirect_url - all of which can be manipulated to execute malicious scripts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling attackers to steal user sessions, access sensitive data, manipulate contact information, and perform unauthorized actions within the ownCloud environment. Users authenticated to the platform could have their credentials compromised through session hijacking attacks, while the injection capabilities could lead to persistent backdoors within the application. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of user data, particularly impacting the contact management and file sharing functionalities that form the core of ownCloud's value proposition. Attackers could leverage these vulnerabilities to establish persistent access to user accounts and potentially escalate privileges within the system.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including updating to ownCloud version 3.0.3 or later, which contains the necessary input validation patches. Network administrators should deploy web application firewalls with XSS detection capabilities and implement strict input filtering rules for all affected parameters. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper parameter validation as outlined in OWASP Top 10 A03:2021 - Injection, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments of their ownCloud installations, implement Content Security Policy headers, and establish robust input sanitization processes. The vulnerability highlights the critical need for regular security updates and the implementation of defense-in-depth strategies that include both perimeter security controls and application-level protections to prevent similar injection attacks in other web applications.