CVE-2012-5492 in Plone
Summary
by MITRE
uid_catalog.py in Plone before 4.2.3 and 4.3 before beta 1 allows remote attackers to obtain metadata about hidden objects via a crafted URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/13/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5492 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Plone content management system that affects versions prior to 4.2.3 and 4.3 beta 1. This issue resides in the uid_catalog.py module which serves as a core component responsible for cataloging and managing unique identifiers within the Plone framework. The vulnerability specifically enables remote attackers to access metadata about objects that should remain hidden from unauthorized users, fundamentally undermining the system's access control mechanisms and information security posture.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of crafted URLs that target the uid_catalog.py script. When a malicious actor crafts a specific URL request, the system fails to properly validate access permissions before returning object metadata, allowing unauthorized users to retrieve information about hidden or restricted content. This flaw essentially bypasses the normal access control checks that should prevent users from viewing objects they do not have authorization to see, creating a direct pathway for information leakage that can expose sensitive data, internal system structure, and potentially reveal other vulnerabilities through metadata analysis.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with valuable reconnaissance data that can be used to plan more sophisticated attacks. The metadata obtained through this vulnerability can include object types, creation dates, modification timestamps, and other identifying characteristics that help attackers understand the system's internal structure and identify potential targets for further exploitation. This information can be particularly damaging in environments where Plone serves as a corporate or government content management platform, as it may reveal sensitive organizational information, unpublished content, or internal system configurations that should remain confidential.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which describes improper exposure of sensitive information, and represents a classic case of insufficient access control validation. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this issue maps to techniques involving reconnaissance and credential access, as attackers can use the leaked information to better understand the target environment and potentially identify additional attack vectors. The vulnerability also demonstrates weaknesses in the principle of least privilege, as the system fails to properly enforce access restrictions on cataloged metadata that should be protected based on user permissions and object security settings.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigation strategies including updating to Plone versions 4.2.3 or later, which contain the necessary security patches. Additionally, administrators should review and strengthen their access control policies, implement network-level restrictions on catalog access endpoints, and monitor for suspicious URL access patterns. The patch addresses the core issue by implementing proper access validation checks before metadata is returned, ensuring that only authorized users can retrieve information about objects they have legitimate access to. Regular security audits should be conducted to verify that similar access control flaws do not exist in other components of the system, and that proper input validation is maintained across all modules handling user requests.