CVE-2012-2520 in SharePoint
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Microsoft InfoPath 2007 SP2 and SP3 and 2010 SP1, Communicator 2007 R2, Lync 2010 and 2010 Attendee, SharePoint Server 2007 SP2 and SP3 and 2010 SP1, Groove Server 2010 SP1, Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 SP2, SharePoint Foundation 2010 SP1, and Office Web Apps 2010 SP1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted string, aka "HTML Sanitization Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/31/2024
The CVE-2012-2520 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting multiple Microsoft products including InfoPath 2007 and 2010, Communicator 2007 R2, Lync 2010, SharePoint Server 2007 and 2010, Groove Server 2010, Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, SharePoint Foundation 2010, and Office Web Apps 2010. This vulnerability stems from inadequate HTML sanitization mechanisms within these applications, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content through carefully crafted input strings. The flaw specifically targets the sanitization processes that should filter out potentially dangerous content before it is rendered in web interfaces, creating a pathway for attackers to execute malicious code in the context of a victim's browser session. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through various attack vectors including web forms, user-generated content fields, and collaborative document environments where users can input data that gets processed and displayed to other users.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in software applications. This classification indicates that the vulnerability exists due to insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the affected Microsoft products. The flaw manifests when the applications fail to properly sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it in web pages, allowing attackers to embed malicious script code that executes in the context of other users' browsers. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable session hijacking, credential theft, and the delivery of additional malicious payloads. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to create persistent threats that exploit the trust relationships between users and applications, potentially escalating to more severe attacks such as privilege escalation or data exfiltration.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-2520 is significant for organizations relying on Microsoft collaboration and content management platforms. The vulnerability affects environments where users frequently interact with web-based forms and collaborative features, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise settings where sensitive information is processed and shared. Attackers can exploit this flaw to gain unauthorized access to user sessions, potentially accessing confidential documents, personal information, or system resources. The vulnerability's presence in SharePoint Server and related products means that organizations with extensive document management systems are particularly at risk, as malicious actors could compromise entire collaboration environments. Additionally, the affected products span multiple Microsoft platforms, increasing the attack surface and making comprehensive protection challenging for organizations with diverse technology stacks. The vulnerability also impacts the integrity of web applications by allowing attackers to inject malicious content that can persist across user sessions and potentially compromise the trust model of the affected systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-2520 should prioritize immediate patch deployment through Microsoft security updates, as the vulnerability affects products that were released prior to comprehensive security hardening measures. Organizations should implement additional input validation measures at network boundaries and application levels to detect and block suspicious content patterns. Security configurations should include enhanced output encoding for all user-generated content and implementation of content security policies to limit script execution capabilities. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for "Phishing with Spoofed Credentials" highlights the importance of user awareness training and email filtering systems to prevent exploitation through social engineering vectors. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs, while regular security assessments should verify that sanitization mechanisms are properly functioning. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, given the broad scope of affected products and the potential for widespread impact across enterprise environments.