CVE-2012-6528 in ATutor
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in ATutor before 2.1 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the PATH_INFO to (1) themes/default/tile_search/index.tmpl.php, (2) login.php, (3) search.php, (4) password_reminder.php, (5) login.php/jscripts/infusion, (6) login.php/mods/_standard/flowplayer, (7) browse.php/jscripts/infusion/framework/fss, (8) registration.php/themes/default/ie_styles.css, (9) about.php, or (10) themes/default/social/basic_profile.tmpl.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/23/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-6528 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting ATutor versions prior to 2.1, specifically within the web application's handling of PATH_INFO parameters. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is a pervasive security weakness that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web applications that are then executed by other users. The flaw manifests across multiple endpoints within the ATutor platform, including core authentication pages, search functionality, and various theme components, creating a broad attack surface for malicious actors. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it within web pages, enabling attackers to bypass security controls through carefully crafted malicious payloads.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers manipulate the PATH_INFO parameter to inject malicious script code into the application's response. This injection can occur in ten distinct locations within the ATutor codebase, including authentication pages like login.php and password_reminder.php, search functionality in search.php, and various theme template files such as themes/default/tile_search/index.tmpl.php and themes/default/social/basic_profile.tmpl.php. The attack vector leverages the fact that the application does not properly escape or validate user input before incorporating it into dynamic web content, allowing attackers to execute scripts in the context of other users' browsers. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious links and can be classified as a server-side injection vulnerability that compromises the integrity of the web application's user interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to perform session hijacking, steal user credentials, redirect users to malicious sites, or manipulate the application's functionality. When users browse to affected pages with malicious PATH_INFO parameters, their browsers execute the injected scripts, potentially leading to complete compromise of user sessions and unauthorized access to sensitive educational content. The vulnerability affects the entire ATutor ecosystem, including users with different privilege levels, making it particularly dangerous for educational institutions that rely on the platform for course management and user authentication. The widespread nature of the vulnerability across multiple endpoints means that attackers can choose the most effective attack path based on their target audience and desired impact, whether targeting administrators or regular users.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-6528 require immediate implementation of comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures across all affected application components. Organizations should upgrade to ATutor version 2.1 or later, which includes proper sanitization of PATH_INFO parameters and enhanced security controls. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers, employing proper HTML escaping techniques, and conducting regular security testing can prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring. The remediation process should include thorough code review of all input handling mechanisms, particularly those related to PATH_INFO and other server variables, to ensure that user-supplied data is properly validated and sanitized before being rendered in web responses. Security teams should also implement web application firewalls and monitor for suspicious PATH_INFO patterns that may indicate attempted exploitation of similar vulnerabilities. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining up-to-date software and implementing robust security controls throughout the application development lifecycle to prevent the exploitation of input validation flaws that can lead to complete system compromise.