CVE-2012-4395 in ownCloud
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in ownCloud before 4.0.3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the redirect_url parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/31/2025
The CVE-2012-4395 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in ownCloud versions prior to 4.0.3, specifically affecting the index.php script. This vulnerability exposes the platform to remote code execution risks through malicious web script injection, creating a significant security exposure for users and organizations relying on the cloud storage solution. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input passed through the redirect_url parameter, allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads that execute in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a code injection flaw where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without adequate validation or escaping mechanisms. The vulnerability operates by accepting the redirect_url parameter directly from user input without proper sanitization, enabling attackers to craft malicious URLs that contain embedded scripts. When legitimate users navigate to these crafted URLs or are redirected to them, the injected JavaScript executes within their browser sessions, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the compromised user accounts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with a vector for more sophisticated attacks within the ownCloud ecosystem. An attacker could exploit this flaw to steal user session cookies, redirect victims to malicious sites, or even execute commands on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability affects the authentication and authorization mechanisms of the platform, potentially allowing unauthorized access to sensitive data stored within the cloud environment. This issue particularly impacts organizations using ownCloud for collaborative workspaces, as it undermines the trust model that cloud storage platforms rely upon for secure file sharing and access control.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-4395 involve immediate deployment of the patched ownCloud version 4.0.3 or later, which implements proper input validation and sanitization for the redirect_url parameter. Organizations should also implement additional security measures including web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious parameter values, regular security audits of web applications, and comprehensive user education about recognizing phishing attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation practices and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting languages, as attackers can leverage the XSS capability to execute malicious scripts within user sessions. Security teams should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and reduce the impact of potential XSS exploitation. Regular vulnerability assessments and security monitoring are essential to identify similar flaws in web applications and maintain robust defense-in-depth strategies against persistent threats targeting cloud infrastructure and user authentication systems.