CVE-2012-5914 in Seditio
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the sed_import function in system/functions.php in Neocrome Seditio build 160 and 161 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) newmsg or (2) rtext parameter. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/16/2019
The CVE-2012-5914 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the Neocrome Seditio content management system version 160 and 161. This vulnerability specifically targets the sed_import function located within the system/functions.php file, demonstrating a classic input validation weakness that enables malicious actors to execute unauthorized code within the context of affected user sessions. The vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input parameters, creating an attack surface that can be exploited by remote threat actors without requiring authentication or privileged access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through two distinct parameter injection points within the sed_import function. Attackers can leverage the newmsg parameter or the rtext parameter to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content that gets processed and rendered without proper validation or encoding. This flaw falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities in software applications. The vulnerability operates by bypassing standard input filtering mechanisms that should normally sanitize or escape user-provided data before it is incorporated into dynamic web content. When the affected system processes these parameters, the malicious code becomes embedded within the application's response and executes in the browsers of unsuspecting users who visit affected pages.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-5914 extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it creates persistent attack vectors that can be leveraged for session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious sites. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability can potentially establish persistent access to user sessions, allowing them to perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can exploit it from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the target system. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which describes social engineering tactics including spearphishing with malicious attachments, and T1059 which covers command and scripting interpreter techniques. The vulnerability can be particularly dangerous in environments where administrators or privileged users access the system, as successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-5914 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening. The primary solution involves implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the sed_import function and similar application components. Developers should employ whitelist-based input validation that only accepts known good characters and patterns while rejecting potentially malicious content. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of defense against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security audits and code reviews, particularly focusing on user input handling and data sanitization practices. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads attempting to exploit similar vulnerabilities. Regular updates and patch management processes are essential to ensure that known vulnerabilities are addressed promptly, as this particular flaw was present in specific versions of the Seditio platform that have since been remediated through official patches. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices and the need for comprehensive security testing throughout the software development lifecycle.