CVE-2012-3301 in Lotus Domino
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple CRLF injection vulnerabilities in the HTTP server in IBM Lotus Domino 8.5.x before 8.5.4 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary HTTP headers and conduct HTTP response splitting attacks via crafted input involving (1) Mozilla Firefox 3.0.9 and earlier or (2) unspecified browsers.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/17/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-3301 represents a critical security flaw in IBM Lotus Domino 8.5.x versions prior to 8.5.4, specifically within the HTTP server component that enables remote attackers to perform CRLF (Carriage Return Line Feed) injection attacks. This vulnerability exploits the improper handling of user-supplied input in HTTP header processing, creating a pathway for attackers to manipulate HTTP responses and inject malicious headers. The flaw affects both Mozilla Firefox 3.0.9 and earlier versions as well as unspecified browser implementations, indicating a broad impact across multiple client environments. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-113, which specifically addresses "Improper Neutralization of CRLF Sequences in HTTP Headers ('HTTP Response Splitting')", a well-documented weakness in web application security that has been consistently observed across various platforms and frameworks.
The technical execution of this vulnerability relies on the manipulation of CRLF sequences within HTTP headers, where attackers can insert carriage return and line feed characters to split the original HTTP response into multiple responses. When IBM Lotus Domino processes user input that contains these sequences without proper sanitization, the server fails to properly validate or escape the input before incorporating it into HTTP headers. This allows an attacker to inject additional HTTP headers or even entire HTTP responses, potentially enabling various malicious activities including session hijacking, cross-site scripting attacks, and cache poisoning. The vulnerability specifically targets the HTTP server component, which means that any interaction with the Domino server through HTTP requests could be exploited if the server does not properly sanitize input parameters. The attack vector requires the attacker to craft malicious input that contains CRLF sequences, which are then processed by the vulnerable server and incorporated into HTTP headers without proper validation.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-3301 extends beyond simple header injection, as it enables sophisticated attack patterns that can compromise the integrity and confidentiality of web applications. Response splitting attacks can lead to session management issues where attackers can manipulate user sessions, potentially gaining unauthorized access to protected resources. The vulnerability also opens pathways for cache poisoning attacks where malicious content can be cached and served to other users, and can facilitate cross-site scripting attacks when combined with other vulnerabilities. Organizations running affected versions of IBM Lotus Domino face significant risks including data breaches, unauthorized access to sensitive information, and potential compromise of entire web applications. The impact is particularly severe in environments where Lotus Domino serves as a critical web application platform for business operations, email services, or collaboration tools, as these systems often contain sensitive corporate data and user credentials.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-3301 require immediate implementation of the vendor-provided security patches and updates, specifically upgrading to IBM Lotus Domino 8.5.4 or later versions where the vulnerability has been addressed. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and sanitization measures at all points where user data enters the HTTP processing pipeline, ensuring that CRLF sequences are properly escaped or removed from input before processing. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion prevention systems can provide additional layers of defense by monitoring for suspicious CRLF patterns in HTTP headers. Security configurations should include disabling unnecessary HTTP headers, implementing strict header validation rules, and regularly auditing HTTP response content to detect potential injection attempts. The remediation process should also involve comprehensive testing of the patched environment to ensure that the vulnerability has been properly addressed without introducing new issues, and organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any other potential weaknesses in their web application infrastructure. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing robust input validation practices as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's techniques for command and control operations and credential access.