CVE-2012-4563 in Web Toolkit
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Google Web Toolkit (GWT) 2.4 Beta and release candidates before 2.4.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/06/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4563 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Google Web Toolkit version 2.4 Beta and release candidates prior to the official 2.4.0 release. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws. The GWT framework serves as a comprehensive platform for building complex web applications in java, making this vulnerability particularly concerning given the widespread adoption of the framework in enterprise environments.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the GWT framework's handling of user-supplied data. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that bypass the framework's security controls, allowing arbitrary web script or HTML code to be injected into web pages served by applications built with GWT. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability may manifest through multiple attack surfaces within the framework, potentially including form inputs, URL parameters, or API endpoints where user data is processed and rendered back to clients. This broad attack surface increases the exploitability and impact potential of the vulnerability.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations utilizing GWT-based applications, as it enables attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of affected users' browsers. Successful exploitation could lead to session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, or the redirection of users to malicious websites. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require physical access to the target system or network, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where applications handle sensitive user data or business-critical information. The vulnerability affects the entire development lifecycle of applications built with GWT, from development through production deployment, as the flaw exists within the framework itself rather than in specific application implementations.
Organizations should prioritize immediate mitigation by upgrading to GWT version 2.4.0 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the XSS vulnerability. Additionally, implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures at the application level can provide defense-in-depth protection. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of existing GWT-based applications to identify potential exploitation vectors and ensure proper sanitization of all user inputs. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059.007 technique for script injection, while the CWE-79 classification emphasizes the need for proper data sanitization and context-aware output encoding to prevent malicious code execution. Regular security testing and code reviews should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future application developments.