CVE-2012-2911 in backupDB
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in backupDB.php in SiliSoftware backupDB() 1.2.7a allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the onlyDB parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/24/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2911 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw located in the backupDB.php script of SiliSoftware backupDB() version 1.2.7a. This weakness falls under the category of CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. The vulnerability manifests through the improper handling of the onlyDB parameter, which serves as an entry point for malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code into the application's response.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious payload containing script code and passes it through the onlyDB parameter in the backupDB.php script. The application fails to validate or sanitize this input before rendering it within the web page context, creating an environment where injected scripts execute in the victim's browser with the privileges of the affected user. This particular flaw operates at the application layer and can be leveraged by remote attackers without requiring any authentication or privileged access to the system. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script injection as it can enable session hijacking, credential theft, and the execution of malicious operations on behalf of authenticated users.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability present significant security risks to organizations utilizing SiliSoftware backupDB() 1.2.7a, particularly those with web applications that handle sensitive data or user authentication. Attackers can exploit this weakness to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, deface web pages, or perform actions within the application context that the legitimate user has authorization to execute. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can exploit it from any location without physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous in environments where the application is exposed to untrusted network traffic. This flaw directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as it can be used to deliver malicious payloads through crafted web requests that appear legitimate to end users.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of the affected software to version 1.2.7b or later, which contains the necessary input validation and sanitization fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation measures that filter and sanitize all user-supplied data before processing, particularly focusing on parameters like onlyDB that are used in dynamic content generation. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded and executed within the browser context. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar input handling vulnerabilities across the application codebase, with particular attention to areas where dynamic content is generated based on user input. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional defensive measures to detect and block suspicious traffic patterns associated with XSS attacks, while user education programs can help reduce the risk of successful exploitation through social engineering approaches.