CVE-2012-2280 in RSA Authentication Manager
Summary
by MITRE
EMC RSA Authentication Manager 7.1 before SP4 P14 and RSA SecurID Appliance 3.0 before SP4 P14 do not properly use frames, which allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors, related to a "Cross frame scripting vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/27/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2280 represents a critical cross-frame scripting flaw affecting EMC RSA Authentication Manager 7.1 before SP4 P14 and RSA SecurID Appliance 3.0 before SP4 P14. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-749 category of "Exposed Dangerous Method or Function" and specifically relates to improper frame handling mechanisms that create opportunities for malicious code injection. The flaw stems from inadequate validation and sanitization of frame content within the authentication systems, creating a pathway for attackers to exploit the trust relationships between frames and parent windows.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content through unspecified vectors that leverage frame manipulation techniques. This cross-frame scripting vulnerability occurs when the affected systems fail to properly validate or sanitize content that is embedded within frames, enabling attackers to execute malicious code in the context of the victim's session. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the browser-level frame rendering mechanism, where legitimate authentication interfaces can be compromised by malicious actors who inject content into frame boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can lead to complete session hijacking and credential theft within the RSA authentication environment. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to steal authentication tokens, impersonate legitimate users, and gain unauthorized access to protected systems. The cross-frame nature of the attack means that even if users are accessing legitimate authentication portals, malicious code injected into frame boundaries can capture session data and redirect users to attacker-controlled sites. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 for "Modify System Image" and can be leveraged for credential access through T1078 for valid accounts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-2280 require immediate implementation of security patches provided by EMC, specifically SP4 P14 updates for both RSA Authentication Manager 7.1 and RSA SecurID Appliance 3.0. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including strict frame policy enforcement through Content Security Policy headers, regular security assessments of authentication interfaces, and monitoring for suspicious frame-based activities. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper frame validation and the need for comprehensive security testing of authentication systems. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and prevent cross-frame scripting attempts, as well as conducting regular penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other authentication systems. The flaw underscores the critical need for defense in depth approaches to protect authentication infrastructure from browser-based attacks that exploit trust relationships between web components.