CVE-2012-4019 in Tokyo BBS
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in tokyo_bbs.cgi in Come on Girls Interface (CGI) Tokyo BBS allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors related to the error page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/05/2018
The CVE-2012-4019 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Tokyo BBS CGI application, specifically affecting the come on girls interface component. This vulnerability resides in the tokyo_bbs.cgi script which processes user inputs and generates error pages without proper sanitization mechanisms. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content through manipulated input parameters that are subsequently rendered in error page displays. The vulnerability specifically targets the error handling mechanism of the application, where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into generated HTML responses without adequate validation or encoding.
This XSS vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which categorizes it as a classic cross-site scripting weakness where the application fails to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. The attack vector exploits the application's insufficient output encoding and input validation controls, allowing malicious actors to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it occurs in the error page generation process, which means that even malformed or malicious inputs that trigger error conditions can be leveraged for exploitation. Attackers can craft payloads that will be executed when other users view the error page, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains within the web application environment. When users encounter error pages generated by the vulnerable script, their browsers execute the injected malicious code, potentially compromising their sessions and exposing sensitive information. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of user interactions with the Tokyo BBS interface, as it allows attackers to manipulate the user experience and potentially escalate privileges within the application context. The flaw also creates opportunities for persistent XSS attacks where malicious scripts can be stored and executed repeatedly, making it particularly dangerous for applications handling user-generated content. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which involves the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities to execute malicious code in user browsers, and T1059 which encompasses the execution of commands through script-based attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-4019 must focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's data flow. The primary remediation involves sanitizing all user inputs before they are processed or displayed, particularly in error handling scenarios where data is directly incorporated into HTML responses. Implementing proper HTML encoding of user-supplied data in error page generation prevents script execution when rendered in browsers. Organizations should also establish comprehensive content security policies that restrict script execution within the application context. The fix requires modifications to the tokyo_bbs.cgi script to ensure that all parameters are validated against expected formats and that any potentially dangerous characters are properly escaped or removed. Additionally, implementing a web application firewall can provide an additional layer of protection by monitoring and filtering malicious payloads before they reach the vulnerable application components, though this should not replace proper code-level fixes.