CVE-2012-5053 in Infrastructure GNSS Series Receivers
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Receiver Web User Interface on Trimble Infrastructure GNSS Series Receivers NetR3, NetR5, NetR8, and NetR9 before 4.70, and NetRS before 1.3-2, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/04/2018
The CVE-2012-5053 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Trimble Infrastructure GNSS Series receivers including the NetR3, NetR5, NetR8, and NetR9 models along with the NetRS device. This vulnerability exists within the Receiver Web User Interface component of these industrial-grade GPS receivers, which are widely deployed in surveying, mapping, and geospatial applications where precision positioning is essential. The affected devices operate in environments where they may be exposed to untrusted network traffic, making them potential targets for malicious actors seeking to exploit web interface vulnerabilities.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the web user interface of these receivers. Attackers can leverage unspecified vectors to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code into the receiver's web interface, potentially allowing for unauthorized code execution within the context of the victim's browser session. This vulnerability specifically affects firmware versions prior to 4.70 for NetR3, NetR5, NetR8, and NetR9 receivers, and before 1.3-2 for NetRS devices. The lack of proper sanitization of user-supplied input means that any data submitted through the web interface could be executed as client-side script, creating a persistent threat vector for remote attackers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as these receivers are typically deployed in critical infrastructure applications including surveying operations, construction projects, and geospatial data collection systems. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially manipulate survey data, disrupt ongoing operations, or gain unauthorized access to sensitive geospatial information. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require physical access to the devices, making the threat particularly concerning for organizations that rely on these receivers for precision positioning services. The vulnerability could enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the affected systems, potentially leading to complete compromise of the receiver's operational capabilities and data integrity.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including firmware updates to versions 4.70 or later for affected NetR receivers and 1.3-2 or later for NetRS devices, as provided by Trimble. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of these devices to untrusted networks, while implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious payloads. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual traffic patterns or attempts to exploit web interface vulnerabilities. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, Cross-site Scripting, which is categorized under the OWASP Top Ten as a critical web application security risk, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter - JavaScript, highlighting the exploitation of client-side scripting capabilities for malicious purposes. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning of industrial control systems should be conducted to identify and remediate similar weaknesses across the entire network infrastructure.