CVE-2012-6589 in MYRE Business Directory
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in search.php in MYRE Business Directory allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the look parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2025
The CVE-2012-6589 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the MYRE Business Directory application's search functionality. This security weakness resides in the search.php script where user input is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to the browser. The vulnerability specifically affects the look parameter, which serves as the primary entry point for attacker-controlled data injection. When users submit search queries through this parameter, the application fails to implement adequate input validation or output encoding mechanisms, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of other users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows standard XSS attack patterns where an attacker crafts malicious input containing script tags or other HTML elements that get executed when the vulnerable page renders the search results. The flaw manifests as a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability, meaning the malicious payload is reflected back to the user through the search results page without being stored on the server. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.008 for script injection. The vulnerability's impact is significant as it enables attackers to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, deface web pages, or redirect users to malicious sites.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability extend beyond simple data theft or defacement. When attackers successfully exploit this XSS flaw, they can potentially establish persistent access to user sessions, modify directory listings, or inject malicious content that affects all users who view the search results. The vulnerability affects the entire business directory functionality since the search parameter is commonly used across multiple pages and user interactions. Organizations relying on this directory system face risks of data compromise, reputational damage, and potential regulatory violations if user information is accessed or modified through this attack vector. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that exploitation requires user interaction with a crafted link, but once executed, the malicious code operates with the privileges and permissions of the victim user.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-6589 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding techniques. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user input through strict validation of the look parameter, ensuring that any potentially dangerous characters or script tags are either removed or properly encoded before being processed or displayed. Implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script execution, while proper HTML escaping of all dynamic content helps prevent malicious code from executing in the browser context. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns targeting this specific vulnerability. Regular security testing and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar input handling issues throughout the application, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of consistent security practices across all user input processing components. The remediation process must include thorough testing to ensure that the fix does not break legitimate functionality while effectively neutralizing the XSS attack surface.