CVE-2012-3231 in web@all
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities in web@all 2.0, as downloaded before May 30, 2012, allow remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that add, delete, or modify sensitive information, as demonstrated by adding a file to execute arbitrary code via a do_addfile action to inc/browser/action.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/23/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-3231 represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw in the web@all content management system version 2.0. This vulnerability specifically affects installations that were downloaded prior to May 30, 2012, indicating a time-sensitive security issue that was likely addressed in subsequent releases. The flaw resides in the authentication mechanism and authorization controls, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system's trust in legitimate user sessions. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the administrative functions of the CMS, making it particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to perform privileged actions without proper authentication. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it leverages the existing trust relationship between the web application and authenticated administrators, enabling unauthorized code execution through seemingly legitimate administrative operations.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the absence of proper anti-CSRF token validation mechanisms within the web@all 2.0 system. When administrators perform actions such as adding, deleting, or modifying sensitive information through the web interface, the system should validate that these requests originate from legitimate administrative sessions. However, the flaw allows attackers to craft malicious requests that appear to come from authenticated administrators, thereby bypassing the authentication checks. The specific attack path involves exploiting the do_addfile action within the inc/browser/action.php file, which serves as an entry point for arbitrary code execution. This particular endpoint demonstrates how CSRF vulnerabilities can escalate to full system compromise when administrative functions lack proper security controls. The vulnerability essentially allows attackers to manipulate the application's behavior through forged requests that the system processes as legitimate administrative commands.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation to encompass complete system compromise. An attacker who successfully exploits this CSRF flaw can execute arbitrary code on the target system, potentially leading to data theft, system infiltration, or complete server takeover. The ability to add files to the system creates opportunities for persistent backdoor installation, while the administrative privileges granted through this attack vector allow for comprehensive system control. Organizations running vulnerable versions of web@all 2.0 face significant risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and potential regulatory compliance violations. The vulnerability's impact is amplified because it targets the administrative interface, which typically has the highest privileges within web applications. This flaw aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege and proper session management. The attack could be executed through social engineering or by tricking administrators into visiting malicious websites, making it particularly difficult to defend against.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-3231 should prioritize immediate system updates and patch management, as the vulnerability was likely resolved in later versions of web@all. Organizations must implement proper anti-CSRF token mechanisms that validate the authenticity of requests through unique tokens generated per session and validated on each administrative action. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and proper session management controls can provide additional layers of protection. Security professionals should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of all web applications to identify similar CSRF vulnerabilities that may exist in other systems. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining current security patches and implementing robust authentication controls. The attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers social engineering methods used to gain initial access, and T1078, which addresses valid accounts used for persistence. Organizations should establish automated patch management processes and regular security audits to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in their environments, particularly focusing on administrative interfaces that handle sensitive operations.