# CVE-2012-5223: Code injection in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary PHP code via complex curly syntax in the char_repl parameter of the vBSEO plugin.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 1 Oct 2012
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-h3xg-2p49-9cfp

## What is CVE-2012-5223?

CVE-2012-5223 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in n/a, published on 1 Oct 2012. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The proc_deutf function in includes/functions_vbseocp_abstract.php in vBSEO 3.5.0, 3.5.1, 3.5.2, 3.6.0, and earlier allows remote attackers to insert and execute arbitrary PHP code via "complex curly syntax" in the char_repl parameter, which is inserted into a regular expression that is processed by the preg_replace function with the eval switch.

Weakness: CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2012-5223?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Crawlability Vbseo.

## How do I fix CVE-2012-5223?

No fix has been published for CVE-2012-5223 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2012-5223 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2012-5223 exists.

Public exploit code:

- vBSEO proc_deutf() Remote PHP Code Injection (metasploit)
- vBSEO 3.6.0 - 'proc_deutf()' Remote PHP Code Injection (Metasploit) (exploitdb)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2012-5223 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2012-5223 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in n/a, published on 1 Oct 2012. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2012-5223 exists.

Affected product: n/a. 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-2012-5223/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-5223/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2012-5223
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-5223
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2012-5223

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-5223/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.