# CVE-2012-4533: Cross-site scripting in n/a

> Authenticated users with commit access can inject arbitrary scripts via the function name line in ViewVC, potentially compromising other users.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.3 (`AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 19 Nov 2012
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-6cx5-w8wc-hcvh

## What is CVE-2012-4533?

CVE-2012-4533 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 19 Nov 2012. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the "extra" details in the DiffSource._get_row function in lib/viewvc.py in ViewVC 1.0.x before 1.0.13 and 1.1.x before 1.1.16 allows remote authenticated users with repository commit access to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the "function name" line.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2012-4533?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Debian Debian Linux, Viewvc Viewvc.

## How do I fix CVE-2012-4533?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2012-4533 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2012-4533 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-2012-4533 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2012-4533 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 19 Nov 2012. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2012-4533 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-2012-4533/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-4533/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2012-4533
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-4533
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2012-4533

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-4533/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.