CVE-2012-5881 in Utilities Framework
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Flash component infrastructure in YUI 2.4.0 through 2.9.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors related to charts.swf, a similar issue to CVE-2010-4207.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/20/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5881 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Yahoo User Interface (YUI) library version 2.4.0 through 2.9.0. This issue specifically affects the Flash component infrastructure and enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code through the charts.swf file. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the YUI Flash components, creating an attack surface where malicious payloads can be injected and subsequently executed in the context of a victim's browser session.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper handling of user-supplied data within the charts.swf Flash component, which is part of the broader YUI framework. When the Flash component processes data inputs, it fails to adequately sanitize or escape potentially malicious content, allowing attackers to craft specially crafted payloads that get interpreted as executable code rather than benign data. This weakness specifically impacts the Flash-based charting functionality that relies on external data sources, making it particularly dangerous in web applications that utilize YUI for data visualization purposes. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through various attack vectors including web forms, URL parameters, or data feeds that are processed by the affected Flash components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, data theft, and redirection to malicious websites. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal user credentials, manipulate application data, or even establish persistent backdoors within affected applications. The similarity to CVE-2010-4207 indicates a pattern of flawed input handling within the YUI Flash infrastructure, suggesting that multiple components within the same framework may be vulnerable to similar attacks. This vulnerability particularly affects web applications that rely on YUI for charting and data visualization, making it a significant concern for organizations using these components in production environments.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to patched versions of the YUI library or implement comprehensive input validation and sanitization measures to mitigate this vulnerability. The recommended mitigations include applying the latest security patches from Yahoo, implementing proper output encoding for all Flash component data, and conducting thorough security assessments of applications that utilize YUI components. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional defense layers against XSS attacks. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in software applications and follows attack patterns documented in the ATT&CK framework under the web application attack categories, particularly focusing on code injection techniques that exploit client-side vulnerabilities in rich internet applications.