CVE-2007-6545 in RunCMS
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in RunCMS before 1.6.1 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) the subject parameter to modules/news/submit.php; (2) the PATH_INFO to modules/news/index.php, possibly related to the XoopsPageNav class; or (3) an avatar image to edituser.php.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2024
The CVE-2007-6545 vulnerability represents a significant security flaw in RunCMS versions prior to 1.6.1, exposing the system to multiple cross-site scripting attack vectors that could enable remote attackers to execute malicious code within the context of users' browsers. This vulnerability classifies under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, making it a critical concern for web application security. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of RunCMS by failing to properly sanitize user input across multiple entry points, creating persistent XSS attack surfaces that could be exploited by malicious actors to compromise user sessions and execute unauthorized commands.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through three distinct attack vectors that exploit different input handling mechanisms within the RunCMS framework. The first vector targets the subject parameter in modules/news/submit.php, where unfiltered user input allows attackers to inject malicious scripts directly into news submission forms. The second vector exploits the PATH_INFO parameter in modules/news/index.php, which appears to be related to the XoopsPageNav class implementation, suggesting that the vulnerability stems from improper handling of URL path information that could be manipulated to inject malicious payloads. The third vector targets the avatar image functionality in edituser.php, where image upload mechanisms fail to properly validate or sanitize file contents, allowing attackers to upload malicious images that contain embedded scripts.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-6545 extends beyond simple script injection, as these vulnerabilities could enable attackers to perform session hijacking, deface websites, steal user credentials, or redirect users to malicious sites. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it affects core user interaction points within the content management system, including news submission and user profile management functionalities. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.001 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) and T1566 (Phishing) techniques, as attackers could leverage these XSS flaws to create convincing phishing attacks or execute automated command sequences against compromised systems. The persistence of these vulnerabilities in versions before 1.6.1 indicates a failure in input validation and output encoding mechanisms that should have been implemented to prevent such security breaches.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-6545 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures across all user-facing parameters. The most effective remediation involves upgrading to RunCMS version 1.6.1 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address these XSS vulnerabilities. Organizations should also implement Content Security Policy headers, employ proper HTML escaping techniques for all dynamic content, and establish robust input sanitization routines that validate and filter all user-supplied data before processing. Additionally, security measures should include monitoring for suspicious activity patterns, implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the web application stack. The vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of proper input validation and the potential consequences of inadequate security controls in content management systems.