CVE-2012-2642 in MT4i
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the MT4i plugin 3.1 beta 4 and earlier for Movable Type allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2012-2644.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/18/2019
The cross-site scripting vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2642 affects the MT4i plugin version 3.1 beta 4 and earlier implementations within the Movable Type content management system. This vulnerability represents a classic web application security flaw that enables malicious actors to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of a victim's browser session. The vulnerability specifically resides in how the MT4i plugin processes user input without adequate sanitization or encoding mechanisms, creating an attack surface that can be exploited by remote threat actors.
The technical nature of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the plugin's processing logic. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that exploit unspecified vectors within the plugin's functionality, allowing them to inject harmful scripts or HTML content into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability differs from CVE-2012-2644, indicating that multiple XSS flaws exist within the same software ecosystem, each potentially requiring different mitigation approaches. This particular flaw operates under CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting as a fundamental web application security weakness, specifically classified as an input validation and output encoding failure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, deface websites, steal sensitive cookies, redirect users to malicious domains, or execute unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users. When exploited, this vulnerability can compromise the integrity of the Movable Type platform and potentially lead to broader system compromise if attackers can leverage the initial foothold to escalate privileges or access additional vulnerable components. The vulnerability affects all users of the affected plugin versions, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users interact with the platform.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the patched version of the MT4i plugin, implementing proper input sanitization measures, and deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script injection attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper output encoding and input validation as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security principles, specifically addressing the need for robust sanitization of user-supplied data. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments of their web applications to identify similar vulnerabilities and ensure that all plugins and components are kept up to date with the latest security patches to prevent exploitation.