# CVE-2012-2243: Cross-site scripting in n/a

> Remote attackers can inject scripts via XML uploads, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution without authentication in Mahara.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.3 (`AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 24 Nov 2012
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-hmf8-f4g7-v4wr

## What is CVE-2012-2243?

CVE-2012-2243 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Mahara Mahara, published on 24 Nov 2012. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Mahara 1.4.x before 1.4.5 and 1.5.x before 1.5.4 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML by uploading an XML file with the xhtml extension, which is rendered inline as script.  NOTE: this can be leveraged with CVE-2012-2244 to execute arbitrary code without authentication, as demonstrated by modifying the clamav path.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2012-2243?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Mahara Mahara.

## How do I fix CVE-2012-2243?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2012-2243 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2012-2243 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Mahara Mahara

- [CVE-2022-45134](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-45134/): Deserialization in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2022-44544](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-44544/): Command injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-40849](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-40849/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-1000152](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-1000152/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-1000153](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-1000153/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2012-2243 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2012-2243 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Mahara Mahara, published on 24 Nov 2012. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2012-2243 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Mahara Mahara. 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-2012-2243/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-2243/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2012-2243
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-2243
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2012-2243

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-2243/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.