CVE-2012-5050 in vCenter Operations
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the server in VMware vCenter Operations (aka vCOps) before 5.0.x allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/01/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5050 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within VMware vCenter Operations (vCOps) server components. This security weakness affects versions prior to 5.0.x and enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML content within the context of authenticated user sessions. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the vCOps server infrastructure, creating an attack surface where malicious payloads can be injected through unspecified vectors. The affected system operates as a centralized monitoring and management platform for VMware environments, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise enterprise infrastructure. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-79 indicates a failure in properly sanitizing user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages, which directly violates fundamental web application security principles.
The technical exploitation of this XSS vulnerability occurs when an attacker successfully injects malicious scripts into the vCOps server through unspecified input vectors that likely include user interface elements, configuration parameters, or data processing endpoints. These vectors typically involve parameters that are directly rendered in web responses without adequate sanitization or encoding. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of victims, or redirect users to malicious websites. The vCOps environment serves as a critical management interface for VMware virtual infrastructure, meaning successful exploitation could provide attackers with elevated privileges and access to sensitive operational data. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which focuses on the use of unauthorized access to gain administrative privileges through web application exploitation, and T1059 which encompasses the execution of malicious code through script injection techniques.
The operational consequences of CVE-2012-5050 pose significant risks to enterprise security postures, particularly in environments where vCOps serves as a central monitoring solution. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to establish persistent access to the monitoring infrastructure, potentially enabling them to observe network traffic, manipulate performance data, or disrupt critical operations. The attack surface includes not only direct user interactions but also automated processes that might process user input within the vCOps environment. Organizations utilizing affected versions face potential data breaches, unauthorized system modifications, and compromised integrity of their virtualized infrastructure monitoring capabilities. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the privileged nature of vCOps operations, which typically require administrative access to manage complex virtual environments. Security teams must consider the potential for lateral movement within the network if attackers use the compromised vCOps instance as a foothold for further infiltration. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple versions before 5.0.x indicates a fundamental design flaw that required comprehensive rearchitecture to resolve properly.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-5050 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security architecture improvements. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to VMware vCenter Operations version 5.0.x or later, which contains the necessary security patches to prevent the XSS injection vectors. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of the vCOps server to untrusted networks, reducing the attack surface for remote exploitation attempts. Input validation mechanisms should be enhanced to sanitize all user-supplied data before processing, with particular attention to HTML encoding and script sanitization routines. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, including unusual data processing requests or unexpected session modifications. Regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the broader VMware ecosystem and related management interfaces. The implementation of web application firewalls and content security policies can provide additional layers of protection against XSS attacks. Organizations should also establish incident response procedures specifically tailored to address vCOps-related security incidents, ensuring rapid detection and remediation of exploitation attempts. Compliance with industry standards such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 security controls should be maintained throughout the remediation process to ensure comprehensive protection against similar vulnerabilities.