CVE-2012-5452 in Subrion CMS
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Subrion CMS 2.2.1 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) multi_title parameter to blocks/add/; (2) cost, (3) days, or (4) title[en] parameter to plans/add/; (5) name or (6) title[en] parameter to fields/group/add/ in admin/manage/; or (7) f[accounts][fullname] or (8) f[accounts][username] parameter to advsearch/. NOTE: This might overlap CVE-2011-5211. NOTE: it was later reported that the f[accounts][fullname] and f[accounts][username] vectors might also affect 2.2.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/26/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5452 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness in Subrion CMS version 2.2.1, exposing multiple attack vectors that could enable remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of affected user sessions. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically targeting input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data. The flaw manifests across several administrative and public-facing endpoints including blocks/add/, plans/add/, fields/group/add/, and advsearch/ which collectively represent the core functionality areas where user input is processed without adequate sanitization measures. The attack surface expands significantly as the vulnerability affects parameters such as multi_title, cost, days, title[en], name, and f[accounts][fullname] among others, creating multiple pathways for exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the Subrion CMS framework. When users submit data through the identified parameters, the application fails to properly filter or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This allows attackers to inject malicious payloads that execute in the browser context of authenticated users, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized administrative actions. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe in the administrative sections where attackers could leverage these vectors to escalate privileges or manipulate critical system components. The fact that multiple parameters across different endpoints are affected suggests a systemic flaw in the application's data handling architecture rather than isolated incidents.
The operational implications of CVE-2012-5452 extend beyond simple script injection, as successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise through session manipulation and privilege escalation. Attackers could craft malicious payloads that redirect users to phishing sites, steal authentication cookies, or inject backdoors into the CMS installation. The vulnerability's presence in the advanced search functionality (advsearch/) is particularly concerning as it could affect both public and administrative users, potentially allowing attackers to harvest sensitive information from user accounts. The overlapping nature with CVE-2011-5211 indicates this represents a persistent issue in the software's security implementation that was not adequately addressed in the 2.2.1 release. The confirmation that vectors f[accounts][fullname] and f[accounts][username] might also affect version 2.2.2 suggests that the underlying security flaws were not fully remediated in subsequent patches.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding across all user-facing parameters within the Subrion CMS installation. Organizations should immediately apply available patches or upgrade to versions that address these vulnerabilities, while also implementing proper content security policies to prevent script execution. The security architecture should incorporate automatic sanitization of all user inputs and ensure that all parameters are properly escaped before being rendered in web pages. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and regular security assessments can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring for suspicious user activities and conduct regular security training for administrators to recognize potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of maintaining secure coding practices and regular security updates in content management systems to prevent such persistent security flaws from affecting user data and system integrity.