CVE-2012-3870 in Openconstructor
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in objects/createobject.php in Open Constructor 3.12.0 allow remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) name or (2) description parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-3870 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Open Constructor content management system version 3.12.0. This vulnerability exists in the objects/createobject.php file and affects authenticated users who can leverage this weakness to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code into the application. The flaw specifically targets two input parameters named name and description, which are processed without adequate sanitization or validation mechanisms, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors.
From a technical perspective, the vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the application's object creation functionality. When authenticated users submit data through the name or description fields, the system fails to properly sanitize these inputs before storing or rendering them in web pages. This creates a persistent XSS vulnerability that allows attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as "Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')", which is a fundamental web application security weakness that has been consistently identified as one of the most prevalent and dangerous vulnerabilities in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables authenticated attackers to potentially escalate their privileges and compromise the entire application environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can execute malicious scripts in the browsers of other users who view the affected content, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further system compromise. The authenticated nature of the vulnerability means that attackers need valid user credentials, but once obtained, they can leverage this weakness to maintain persistent access to the system. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript' and T1566.001 for 'Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment', as it enables attackers to deliver malicious JavaScript payloads through compromised user sessions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The primary fix involves sanitizing all user-supplied input in the name and description parameters before processing or storing the data. This includes implementing proper HTML escaping for all dynamic content rendered in web pages and utilizing secure coding practices such as parameterized queries and input validation libraries. Organizations should also implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the sources from which scripts can be executed, providing an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application, as this type of flaw often indicates broader security issues within the codebase. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of defense-in-depth approaches to web application security and highlights the necessity of adhering to secure coding standards to prevent such persistent threats.