CVE-2012-4950 in Pattern Insight
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Keyword Search page in the web interface in Pattern Insight 2.3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via crafted characters that are not properly handled during construction of error messages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/23/2025
The CVE-2012-4950 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Pattern Insight 2.3 web interface, specifically affecting the Keyword Search page functionality. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly handle malicious characters during error message construction processes. The flaw exists in the application's web interface where user-supplied input is not sufficiently filtered or escaped before being incorporated into dynamic error messages, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic XSS weakness where the application fails to properly encode or sanitize user input before displaying it in error contexts. When users submit search queries containing crafted malicious characters, these inputs are processed through the error handling mechanism without adequate protection measures. The vulnerability specifically targets the error message construction phase, where the application dynamically generates error responses based on user input. This design flaw allows attackers to inject script tags or other malicious HTML content that gets executed when other users view the error messages, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or malicious redirection attacks.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to Pattern Insight 2.3 deployments as it enables remote code execution within the browser context of authenticated users. Attackers can leverage this flaw to steal session cookies, modify user interface elements, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of victims. The vulnerability affects the web interface specifically, meaning that any user with access to the Keyword Search functionality could be targeted, potentially compromising the entire application's security posture. The impact is particularly severe given that Pattern Insight is designed for security monitoring and analysis, making it a valuable target for adversaries seeking to compromise security operations.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding. This weakness manifests in the application's failure to properly escape user-controllable data during error message generation, creating a persistent vector for XSS attacks. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566.001 (Phishing via Social Media) and T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript) as attackers can leverage this flaw to execute JavaScript in victim browsers. The vulnerability also relates to T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) since it represents an exploitable entry point in the web interface that can be accessed remotely without authentication.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-4950 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's error handling processes. Organizations should implement strict character filtering and sanitization for all user inputs, particularly those that will be displayed in error contexts. The most effective remediation involves escaping all user-controllable data before incorporating it into dynamic error messages, ensuring that special characters are properly encoded using appropriate HTML escaping mechanisms. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection layers against XSS attacks, while regular security testing and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The application should also be updated to a patched version of Pattern Insight that addresses this specific vulnerability through proper input sanitization and error handling mechanisms.