CVE-2012-4247 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) remote_user, (2) remote_database, (3) remote_userprefix, (4) remote_password, or (5) remote_prefix parameter to the import4 page; or the (6) id parameter to the bouncerule page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/15/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-4247 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the phpList email management system affecting versions prior to 2.10.19. This vulnerability exists within the administrative interface of phpList, specifically in the lists/admin/index.php file, making it a significant security risk for organizations relying on this email marketing platform. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of authenticated admin sessions, potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive email lists and user data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the phpList administrative pages. Attackers can exploit the vulnerability through five distinct parameter injection points during the import4 page operation, specifically targeting remote_user, remote_database, remote_userprefix, remote_password, and remote_prefix parameters. Additionally, the vulnerability extends to the bouncerule page where the id parameter can be manipulated to inject malicious scripts. These parameters are processed without proper sanitization, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML code that gets executed when administrative users view the affected pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities within the compromised administrative environment. An attacker could inject scripts that steal administrator session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, modify email campaign configurations, or even gain full administrative control over the phpList system. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it targets the administrative interface, meaning that successful exploitation would provide attackers with elevated privileges and access to all email lists, user subscriptions, and campaign data managed through the system. This creates a significant risk for organizations that rely on phpList for mass email communications and customer relationship management.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and demonstrates how insecure input handling can lead to privilege escalation and data compromise. The attack vector follows ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can execute malicious scripts within the context of the web application. Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to phpList version 2.10.19 or later, implementing proper input validation for all user-supplied data, and establishing web application firewall rules to detect and block malicious script injection attempts. Additionally, administrators should review and restrict access to administrative interfaces, implement multi-factor authentication, and conduct regular security audits to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other web applications. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in web application security, particularly for administrative interfaces that handle sensitive data and user information.