CVE-2012-3835 in Open Source Security Information Management
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in AlienVault Open Source Security Information Management (OSSIM) 3.1 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) url parameter to top.php or (2) time[0][0] parameter to forensics/base_qry_main.php, which is not properly handled in an error page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-3835 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within AlienVault Open Source Security Information Management (OSSIM) version 3.1. This security weakness exposes the system to remote code execution risks through web-based injection attacks that can compromise user sessions and potentially lead to full system compromise. The vulnerability resides in the improper handling of user-supplied input within specific PHP scripts that process security information management data. The flaw specifically affects two distinct parameters within the OSSIM application framework, creating multiple attack vectors for malicious actors seeking to exploit the system's security controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the affected PHP scripts. When attackers submit malicious payloads through the url parameter in top.php or the time[0][0] parameter in forensics/base_qry_main.php, the application fails to properly sanitize these inputs before rendering them in error pages or user interfaces. This inadequate sanitization creates an environment where attacker-controlled JavaScript code can be executed within the context of authenticated user sessions. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications, where improper validation of user-supplied data leads to unauthorized script execution. The error page handling mechanism becomes a critical attack surface since it processes unfiltered input without proper HTML escaping or context-aware output encoding.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-3835 extends beyond simple script injection attacks to potentially enable session hijacking, data theft, and privilege escalation within the security information management environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain access to sensitive security event data, manipulate forensic queries, or redirect users to malicious websites that appear legitimate within the trusted OSSIM interface. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the security information management system, potentially compromising the integrity of security monitoring and incident response processes that organizations rely upon for threat detection and mitigation. This flaw particularly impacts organizations using OSSIM for security operations centers where the system's reliability and data integrity are paramount for effective threat management and compliance reporting.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-3835 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected OSSIM version with the vendor-provided security updates or equivalent fixes. Organizations should implement input validation controls at multiple layers including web application firewalls, application-level sanitization, and output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious payloads from being processed. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of the vulnerable components to untrusted networks. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and proper HTML escaping in all user-facing interfaces provides additional defense-in-depth measures. Security teams should also monitor for exploitation attempts through log analysis and implement intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious parameter patterns in web requests. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices in web applications and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script injection attacks, emphasizing the need for comprehensive web application security controls throughout the software development lifecycle.