CVE-2012-3846 in PHP-pastebin
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in PHP-pastebin 2.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the title parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/18/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-3846 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the PHP-pastebin 2.1 web application. This security weakness resides in the index.php file where user input containing the title parameter is not properly sanitized or validated before being rendered back to users. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input filtering mechanisms that fail to neutralize potentially malicious script code embedded within the title field, creating an opening for attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML content in the context of other users' browsers.
This XSS vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration classification of CWE-79 which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation. The flaw enables attackers to inject malicious payloads through the title parameter, which then gets executed when other users view the affected pastebin entries. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it leverages the trust relationship between the web application and its users, allowing threat actors to bypass normal security restrictions and potentially escalate their access to sensitive data or system resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can be exploited to perform session hijacking, defacement of web content, or redirection to malicious websites. Attackers can craft malicious title parameters that contain JavaScript code to steal cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or manipulate the pastebin interface to display unauthorized content. This type of vulnerability can significantly compromise user privacy and the integrity of the web application, potentially leading to more severe consequences such as unauthorized data access or further exploitation of the underlying system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-3846 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-provided input through proper escaping techniques before rendering any content back to users. This includes implementing proper HTML entity encoding for the title parameter and other user inputs to prevent script execution. Security measures should also incorporate Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the sources from which scripts can be loaded, and regular security audits should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. Additionally, developers should adopt secure coding practices that align with the ATT&CK framework's mitigation recommendations for web application vulnerabilities, particularly those related to input validation and output encoding controls.