# CVE-2012-2237: Cross-site scripting in Mahara

> Remote attackers can inject arbitrary web script or HTML via login forms, links, resources, or user profiles in Mahara.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 13 Nov 2019
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DSA-2540-1, GHSA-w8q2-462v-r883

## What is CVE-2012-2237?

CVE-2012-2237 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 13 Nov 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Mahara 1.4.x before 1.4.3 and 1.5.x before 1.5.2 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors related to (1) javascript innerHTML as used when generating login forms, (2) links or (3) resources URLs, and (4) the Display name in a user profile.

Weakness: CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2012-2237?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Debian Debian Linux, Mahara Mahara.

## How do I fix CVE-2012-2237?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2012-2237 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2012-2237 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Mahara 1.4.1 - Multiple Cross-Site Scripting / HTML Injection Vulnerabilities (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Debian Debian Linux

- [CVE-2015-3306](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-3306/): ProFTPD Improper Access Control (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-49113](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-49113/): RoundCube Webmail Deserialization of Untrusted Data (critical 9.9, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-24061](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-24061/): GNU InetUtils Argument Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-39682](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-39682/): Linux Kernel Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-9680](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-9680/): Mozilla Firefox Use-After-Free (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2012-2237 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2012-2237 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 13 Nov 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2012-2237 exists.

Affected product: Debian Debian Linux. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-2237/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-2237/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2012-2237
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-2237
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2012-2237

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-2237/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.