CVE-2012-4871 in LiteSpeed Web Server
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in service/graph_html.php in the administrator panel in LiteSpeed Web Server 4.1.11 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the gtitle parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2024
The CVE-2012-4871 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in LiteSpeed Web Server's administrative interface, specifically within the service/graph_html.php component. This vulnerability exists in version 4.1.11 of the web server software and exposes the administrator panel to remote code execution through malicious script injection. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input submitted through the gtitle parameter, creating an avenue for attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of authenticated administrator sessions. The vulnerability directly impacts the server's security posture by potentially allowing unauthorized users to escalate privileges and gain full administrative control over the web server configuration.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the LiteSpeed Web Server's administrative interface. When administrators access the graph_html.php page to view server performance metrics, the application processes the gtitle parameter without adequate sanitization, allowing malicious payloads to be stored and subsequently executed in the browser context of other authenticated users. This represents a classic reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability where attacker-controlled data flows directly from user input to the application's output without proper validation or encoding. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and demonstrates how insufficient input sanitization can lead to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with a potential pathway to execute arbitrary commands on the web server. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to steal administrator session cookies, modify server configurations, inject malicious code into web pages served by the server, or even establish persistent backdoors within the administrative interface. The consequence is particularly severe because the vulnerability exists within the administrator panel, meaning any successful exploitation could result in complete compromise of the web server environment. Attackers could potentially modify server settings, disable security features, or redirect traffic to malicious destinations, all while operating under the privileges of legitimate administrators. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 which covers command and scripting interpreter usage, as the injected scripts could be used to execute further malicious activities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the LiteSpeed Web Server to version 4.1.12 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to address the input validation issues. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other components of their web applications. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of the administrative interface to trusted networks only. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues across the entire web infrastructure. The fix typically involves implementing proper parameter sanitization and HTML encoding for all user-supplied inputs before they are rendered in the application's output, ensuring that any potentially malicious content is neutralized before execution.