CVE-2012-4270 in eFront
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in eFront 3.6.11 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the subject box of a message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/19/2019
The CVE-2012-4270 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the eFront learning management system version 3.6.11. This vulnerability specifically affects the message handling functionality within the platform, creating a dangerous attack vector for authenticated users who can manipulate the subject field of messages. The flaw resides in the application's insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms, allowing malicious actors to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers. This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration CWE-79 category, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting weaknesses in web applications. The attack scenario involves an authenticated user with access to the messaging system who can craft a malicious subject line containing script code that gets stored and subsequently executed when other users view the message.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the lack of proper sanitization in the message subject field processing. When users compose messages within eFront, the subject field undergoes inadequate validation before being stored in the database and rendered in subsequent user interfaces. This failure to properly encode or escape user-supplied input creates a persistent XSS condition where malicious scripts can be executed in the browsers of unsuspecting recipients. The vulnerability is classified as a stored XSS attack because the malicious payload is permanently stored on the server and executed each time the affected page is loaded. The attack chain begins with an authenticated user submitting a message with malicious code in the subject field, followed by other users viewing the message, which triggers the execution of the injected script. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for "Phishing with Pretexting" and T1584.004 for "Compromise of Web Applications" in the enterprise attack framework.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-4270 extends beyond simple script execution, potentially enabling attackers to steal session cookies, perform actions on behalf of victims, redirect users to malicious sites, or even escalate privileges within the application. An attacker could craft a subject line containing JavaScript that steals authentication tokens from users' browsers, allowing for session hijacking and unauthorized access to the learning management system. The vulnerability particularly affects educational institutions using eFront, as it could compromise the security of student and instructor accounts, potentially leading to data breaches, unauthorized course modifications, or the distribution of malicious content to the entire learning community. The risk is amplified because the vulnerability requires only authenticated access, meaning that any user with valid credentials can exploit it, making it particularly dangerous in environments where user access is not strictly controlled. Organizations using eFront 3.6.11 and similar versions should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, output encoding, and the implementation of Content Security Policy headers to prevent script execution. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization in web applications and serves as a reminder that even authenticated users can pose security risks if proper validation controls are not in place.