CVE-2012-4246 in PHPList
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in lists/admin/index.php in phpList before 2.10.19 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) page parameter; or the (2) footer, (3) status, or (4) testtarget parameter in the send page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/15/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4246 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting phpList versions prior to 2.10.19. This vulnerability resides within the administrative interface of phpList, specifically in the lists/admin/index.php file, making it particularly dangerous as it targets the system's administrative control plane. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of authenticated administrator sessions, potentially compromising the entire email marketing platform and its underlying data. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79, which defines cross-site scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is incorporated into web page content without proper validation or sanitization, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious code.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through multiple attack vectors within the administrative interface. Attackers can manipulate the page parameter to inject malicious scripts, or exploit four distinct parameters on the send page including footer, status, testtarget, and additional input fields. These parameters are processed without adequate sanitization, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary HTML and JavaScript code that executes in the browser of administrators who view the affected pages. The vulnerability affects the authentication context since it targets the admin interface, meaning that successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise rather than just data theft. The attack surface is expanded by the fact that these parameters are used in administrative functions that may be accessed by users with elevated privileges, creating a pathway for privilege escalation and persistent malicious access.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-4246 extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to manipulate the email marketing system's administrative functions. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could modify email templates, alter subscriber lists, change system configurations, or even redirect users to malicious sites. The vulnerability's persistence is enhanced by the fact that it affects administrative pages that are regularly accessed by system administrators, creating ongoing exposure windows for exploitation. Organizations using vulnerable versions of phpList face significant risk of data manipulation, service disruption, and potential unauthorized access to sensitive subscriber information. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers scripting through command-line interfaces, and T1566.001, which involves spearphishing with embedded attachments, as attackers could leverage the compromised administrative interface to launch further attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-4246 center on immediate software updates to phpList version 2.10.19 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the XSS vulnerabilities. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding for all administrative parameters to prevent similar issues in the future. Security measures should include regular vulnerability assessments of web applications, particularly administrative interfaces, and implementation of web application firewalls to detect and block malicious script injection attempts. The principle of least privilege should be enforced for administrative accounts, ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to the vulnerable pages. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security training for administrators to recognize potential social engineering attempts that might exploit this vulnerability, as the attack often requires some form of user interaction within the administrative interface. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software and implementing proper input sanitization techniques to prevent widespread exploitation of web application vulnerabilities.