# CVE-2012-2239: Mahara 1.4.x before 1.4.4 and 1.5.x before 1.5.3 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files or create TCP connections via an XML extern


- **Severity:** Critical 9.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 24 Nov 2012
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-86gr-hf8c-38jv

## What is CVE-2012-2239?

CVE-2012-2239 is a critical vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 24 Nov 2012. 

### Official description

Mahara 1.4.x before 1.4.4 and 1.5.x before 1.5.3 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files or create TCP connections via an XML external entity (XXE) injection attack, as demonstrated by reading config.php.

Weakness: CWE-611 (Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2012-2239?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Debian Debian Linux, Mahara Mahara.

## How do I fix CVE-2012-2239?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2012-2239 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2012-2239 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## 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-2012-2239 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2012-2239 is a critical vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 24 Nov 2012. 
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2012-2239 in the wild and no public exploit code.

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-2012-2239/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-2239/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2012-2239
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-2239
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2012-2239

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-2239/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.