CVE-2012-5175 in ACCESS REPORT
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in KENT-WEB ACCESS REPORT 4.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors related to access-log data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/07/2018
The CVE-2012-5175 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in KENT-WEB ACCESS REPORT version 4.2 and earlier systems. This vulnerability specifically targets the application's handling of access-log data, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML content within the context of affected web applications. The flaw resides in the insufficient sanitization and validation of user-supplied input data that flows through the access reporting functionality, making it a prime target for exploitation by threat actors seeking to compromise web application security.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize or escape data extracted from web server access logs before rendering it in web pages. When the system processes log entries containing potentially malicious input, the data flows directly into HTML output without adequate protection mechanisms such as input validation, output encoding, or proper context-aware escaping. This creates an environment where attackers can craft specially formatted access log entries or manipulate existing log data to inject malicious scripts that execute in the browsers of users who view the access reports. The vulnerability operates under the common weakness identified by CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1566.001 related to spearphishing with links that can be leveraged to deliver malicious payloads through compromised web interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to perform a range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and redirection to malicious sites. When an attacker successfully injects malicious code into the access report interface, they can potentially access user sessions, steal authentication tokens, or redirect victims to phishing sites that appear legitimate within the application context. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require local system access or physical proximity to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where access reports are frequently accessed by authorized personnel. The attack surface is further expanded when considering that access logs often contain sensitive information such as user agent strings, IP addresses, and requested URLs that can be manipulated to create persistent XSS payloads.
Organizations utilizing KENT-WEB ACCESS REPORT 4.2 or earlier versions face significant security risks from this vulnerability, as the exploitation can lead to complete compromise of the web application's integrity and confidentiality. The remediation approach should prioritize immediate patching of the application to version 4.3 or later, which contains the necessary input sanitization and output encoding fixes. Additionally, implementing proper input validation mechanisms, adopting context-aware output encoding for all dynamic content, and establishing regular security testing protocols can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious access log patterns that might indicate attempted exploitation of this vulnerability. The ATT&CK framework's technique T1071.004 related to application layer protocol: web protocols should be incorporated into defensive strategies to detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while adherence to CWE-79 remediation guidelines ensures comprehensive protection against cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in web applications.