CVE-2012-6670 in vbActivity Module
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the DragonByte Technologies vbActivity module before 3.0.1 for vBulletin allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the reason parameter in (1) actions/nominatemedal.php or (2) actions/requestmedal.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/29/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-6670 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the DragonByte Technologies vbActivity module for vBulletin platforms. This security weakness affects versions prior to 3.0.1 and exposes web applications to remote code execution risks through malicious script injection. The vulnerability specifically targets two distinct script files: actions/nominatemedal.php and actions/requestmedal.php, both of which process user-supplied input through the reason parameter without adequate sanitization or validation mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the vbActivity module's medal nomination and request functionality. When users submit requests for medals through these interfaces, the application fails to properly sanitize the reason parameter, allowing attackers to embed malicious javascript code or html content. This occurs because the module does not employ proper output encoding or input filtering techniques that would neutralize potentially harmful user-supplied data. The flaw enables attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of victims' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of authenticated users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, creating significant risks for vBulletin communities and organizations relying on the affected module. Attackers could exploit this weakness to redirect users to malicious websites, steal session cookies, or inject persistent malicious content that affects all users of the forum. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of medal nomination and request systems, which are commonly used features in online communities and gaming platforms. This creates an attack surface that can be leveraged to compromise user sessions and potentially escalate privileges within the application environment. The persistent nature of XSS vulnerabilities means that once exploited, the malicious scripts can continue to execute against other users until the vulnerability is patched.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the vendor-provided patch to upgrade to vbActivity module version 3.0.1 or later. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing content security policies, input validation rules, and output encoding mechanisms to reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting languages and T1566.001 for spearphishing attachments, as attackers may leverage these vulnerabilities to deliver malicious payloads through compromised forum interfaces. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other modules or custom code implementations.