CVE-2012-5489 in Plone
Summary
by MITRE
The App.Undo.UndoSupport.get_request_var_or_attr function in Zope before 2.12.21 and 3.13.x before 2.13.11, as used in Plone before 4.2.3 and 4.3 before beta 1, allows remote authenticated users to gain access to restricted attributes via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/06/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5489 represents a critical access control flaw within the Zope application server framework that affected multiple versions prior to specific security patches. This issue resides within the App.Undo.UndoSupport.get_request_var_or_attr function, which serves as a component responsible for handling request variables and attributes within the Zope environment. The vulnerability specifically impacts Plone content management systems, which rely on Zope as their underlying framework, creating a cascading security risk that extends beyond the base Zope platform to include numerous Plone installations. The flaw enables authenticated users to bypass intended access restrictions and gain unauthorized access to sensitive attributes that should otherwise be protected from their level of authorization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and access control enforcement within the undo support functionality. When users make requests that involve undo operations, the get_request_var_or_attr function processes various request parameters and attributes without adequate verification of user permissions or authorization levels. This weakness allows authenticated attackers to manipulate request variables in ways that can expose restricted attributes and potentially sensitive system information. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that multiple attack paths exist, making the vulnerability particularly concerning as it may be exploitable through various means including crafted HTTP requests, parameter manipulation, or other indirect methods that leverage the core function's flawed attribute handling.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-5489 is significant for organizations running affected versions of Zope and Plone systems, as it creates a direct pathway for authenticated users to escalate their privileges and access restricted system components. This vulnerability can potentially lead to data exposure, unauthorized modifications to system configurations, and in severe cases, complete system compromise if the restricted attributes contain sensitive administrative information. The risk is particularly elevated in environments where multiple users have authenticated access to the system, as any user with valid credentials could potentially exploit this flaw to gain access to information they should not normally be able to view. The vulnerability affects both the 2.12.x and 3.13.x release lines of Zope, indicating a widespread issue that required coordinated patching across multiple version streams.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including updating to patched versions of Zope and Plone, specifically versions 2.12.21 and 2.13.11 respectively, which contain the necessary fixes for this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing network-level controls such as firewalls and access controls can help limit exposure by restricting access to vulnerable systems. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns of attribute access requests that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege as defined in security best practices. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and credential access, potentially enabling attackers to move laterally within systems or maintain persistent access through compromised authenticated sessions. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining instances of the vulnerable software versions within organizational networks.