CVE-2012-6521 in Elefantcms
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in apps/admin/handlers/versions.php in Elefant CMS 1.2.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the id parameter to admin/versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/25/2019
The CVE-2012-6521 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in Elefant CMS version 1.2.0 that exposes the administrative interface to remote code execution through malicious script injection. This vulnerability specifically affects the versions.php handler located within the admin applications directory, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise content management systems. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input passed through the id parameter in the admin/versions endpoint, creating an exploitable path for malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the Elefant CMS framework. When administrators or users interact with the version management functionality, the system accepts the id parameter without adequate sanitization, allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads that persist within the application's response. This weakness directly aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as a result of inadequate input validation and output encoding. The vulnerability operates at the application layer where user-supplied data flows directly into web responses without proper security controls, creating a persistent threat vector that can be exploited across multiple user sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to potentially escalate privileges within the CMS environment. An attacker could craft malicious payloads that redirect authenticated administrators to phishing sites, steal session cookies, or execute arbitrary commands on the server through the compromised administrative interface. This creates a significant risk for organizations relying on Elefant CMS for content management, as successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire content management infrastructure, potentially allowing attackers to modify or delete content, manipulate user permissions, or establish persistent backdoors within the system.
Security practitioners should implement multiple layers of mitigation to address this vulnerability effectively. Immediate remediation requires updating to Elefant CMS version 1.3.0 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and output encoding controls. Additionally, implementing proper parameter validation at the application level, utilizing secure coding practices for input handling, and deploying web application firewalls can provide defense-in-depth measures. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding guidelines and implementing proper input validation as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in their web applications, ensuring that all user-supplied inputs are properly validated and sanitized before processing or rendering within the application interface.