CVE-2012-5164 in Fork
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Fork CMS before 3.2.7 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the term parameter to (1) autocomplete.php, (2) search/ajax/autosuggest.php, (3) livesuggest.php, or (4) save.php in frontend/modules/search/ajax.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/14/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5164 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Fork CMS versions prior to 3.2.7. This weakness resides in the search functionality of the content management system, specifically within four distinct PHP endpoints that handle user input through the term parameter. The affected files include autocomplete.php, search/ajax/autosuggest.php, livesuggest.php, and save.php within the frontend/modules/search/ajax directory structure. These scripts process user-supplied search terms without adequate input validation or output sanitization, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content directly into the application's response.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient parameter sanitization within the search module's ajax handlers. When users submit search queries through the term parameter, the system fails to properly escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This processing gap creates a persistent XSS vector where attackers can craft malicious payloads that execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability affects the frontend interface specifically, meaning that any user interacting with the search functionality could potentially be exposed to malicious code execution. The impact extends beyond simple script injection as the attacker can leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users.
The operational implications of CVE-2012-5164 are significant for organizations utilizing Fork CMS versions before 3.2.7, as the vulnerability can be exploited remotely without authentication requirements. Attackers can craft malicious search terms that, when processed by the vulnerable endpoints, execute in the browser context of any user who views the search results or interacts with the affected functionality. This creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited through various attack vectors including phishing campaigns, social engineering, or by embedding malicious payloads in search terms that appear legitimate to end users. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments or links, as attackers could use this vulnerability to deliver malicious payloads through compromised search functionality.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to Fork CMS version 3.2.7 or later, which includes proper input validation and output sanitization measures for the affected search endpoints. The mitigation strategy should also include implementing proper content security policies to limit script execution capabilities, conducting thorough input validation for all user-supplied data, and deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious search patterns. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual search activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and regular security assessments should verify that all search functionality properly handles special characters and malicious input without compromising system integrity or user security.