CVE-2012-5343 in Limny
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in admin/login.php in Limny 3.0.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the PATH_INFO, related to the "PHP_SELF" variable.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2025
The CVE-2012-5343 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the Limny 3.0.1 content management system that specifically targets the administrative login interface. This vulnerability exists within the admin/login.php file where the application fails to properly sanitize input parameters derived from the PATH_INFO server variable. The issue stems from the application's reliance on the PHP_SELF variable which contains the script name and path information from the HTTP request, making it susceptible to malicious injection attacks that can bypass standard input validation mechanisms. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects the administrative interface, which serves as a critical entry point for system management and user authentication.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers manipulate the PATH_INFO parameter in HTTP requests to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content into the login page. The flaw arises because the application directly incorporates user-supplied PATH_INFO data into the response without proper sanitization or encoding, creating an environment where attacker-controlled input can be executed within the context of a victim's browser session. This type of vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as "Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')", which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 which covers "Data from Information Repositories" and specifically addresses how attackers can leverage web application vulnerabilities to execute malicious code in user browsers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal administrative credentials, and potentially gain full system control. When an authenticated administrator visits a compromised login page, the injected malicious code executes within their browser session, allowing attackers to capture session cookies, modify administrative settings, or redirect users to malicious sites. The vulnerability affects the entire administrative functionality of Limny 3.0.1, making it a critical security concern for organizations relying on this CMS. Attackers can craft malicious URLs that, when accessed by administrators, would execute their payload and potentially compromise the entire system. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and output encoding in web applications, particularly in privileged interfaces where the potential for damage is significantly elevated.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-5343 should prioritize immediate patching of the Limny 3.0.1 application to address the core input validation flaw. Organizations should implement proper input sanitization techniques that validate and encode all user-supplied data before processing or displaying it in web pages. The recommended approach includes implementing proper output encoding for all dynamic content, particularly in administrative interfaces where sensitive operations occur. Security measures should also include configuring web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious PATH_INFO patterns, implementing content security policies to prevent script execution, and conducting regular security audits of web application code. Additionally, the vulnerability highlights the necessity of following secure coding practices such as those outlined in OWASP Top Ten and the CWE guidelines, emphasizing the importance of input validation and proper data sanitization in preventing XSS attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative interfaces to add additional security layers that would mitigate the impact of successful XSS exploitation attempts.