CVE-2012-2995 in InterScan Messaging Security Suite
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Trend Micro InterScan Messaging Security Suite 7.1-Build_Win32_1394 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) the wrsApprovedURL parameter to addRuleAttrWrsApproveUrl.imss or (2) the src parameter to initUpdSchPage.imss.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/11/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2995 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness within Trend Micro InterScan Messaging Security Suite version 7.1 Build Win32_1394. This security flaw resides in the web-based administrative interface of the messaging security solution, which is designed to protect enterprise email systems from various threats including spam, malware, and malicious content. The vulnerability affects the suite's ability to properly sanitize user input parameters, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code within the context of authenticated user sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves two distinct attack vectors that exploit insufficient input validation mechanisms within the web application. The first vector targets the wrsApprovedURL parameter within the addRuleAttrWrsApproveUrl.imss endpoint, while the second vector exploits the src parameter in the initUpdSchPage.imss component. Both parameters fail to properly filter or encode user-supplied data before processing, allowing attackers to inject malicious HTML or JavaScript code that gets executed in the victim's browser. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it enables attackers to establish persistent access within the email security infrastructure. An attacker who successfully exploits these vulnerabilities could potentially gain administrative privileges, modify security policies, redirect users to malicious sites, or harvest sensitive information from authenticated sessions. The attack requires remote access without authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it could be exploited by anyone with network access to the vulnerable system. This aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering attacks through malicious web content.
Organizations running the affected Trend Micro InterScan Messaging Security Suite face significant risk exposure given that these vulnerabilities could allow attackers to compromise the very security controls designed to protect their email infrastructure. The attack surface is particularly concerning because email security systems are often considered trusted components within enterprise networks, making successful exploitation potentially devastating. The vulnerability's presence in the administrative interface means that successful exploitation could provide attackers with complete control over email filtering rules, security policies, and potentially access to sensitive email content. Mitigation efforts should include immediate patching of the affected software, implementation of web application firewalls, and enhanced monitoring for suspicious administrative activities. Additionally, organizations should consider network segmentation to limit access to the vulnerable web interface and implement strict input validation controls at multiple layers of their security infrastructure.