CVE-2008-7214 in Mambo
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in administrator/index2.php in MOStlyCE before 2.4, as used in Mambo 4.6.3 and earlier, allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that add new administrator accounts via the save task in a com_users action, as demonstrated using a separate XSS vulnerability in mambots/editors/mostlyce/jscripts/tiny_mce/filemanager/connectors/php/connector.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/15/2017
The CVE-2008-7214 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the MOStlyCE WYSIWYG editor component of Mambo CMS versions 4.6.3 and earlier. This vulnerability exists in the administrator/index2.php file and specifically targets the administrative interface of the content management system. The flaw enables remote attackers to exploit the authentication mechanism of administrators by crafting malicious requests that add new administrator accounts through the com_users action with save task parameters. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it combines with another existing XSS vulnerability in the filemanager connector to create a complete attack chain that can result in full administrative compromise of affected systems.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the absence of proper anti-CSRF token validation in the administrative account creation functionality. When administrators perform actions through the com_users component, the system should verify that requests originate from legitimate administrative sessions and contain valid authentication tokens. However, the MOStlyCE component fails to implement adequate token verification mechanisms, allowing attackers to forge requests that appear to come from authenticated administrator sessions. The attack leverages the existing XSS vulnerability in the mambots/editors/mostlyce/jscripts/tiny_mce/filemanager/connectors/php/connector.php path to establish a foothold and then uses the CSRF weakness to escalate privileges by creating new administrator accounts. This dual vulnerability exploitation pattern follows the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques and aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities. The vulnerability affects the authentication and authorization mechanisms of the Mambo CMS, undermining the integrity of the administrative access control system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with complete administrative control over affected Mambo installations. Successful exploitation enables unauthorized individuals to create new administrator accounts with full privileges, allowing them to modify website content, access sensitive data, install malicious software, and potentially use the compromised system as a launching point for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations using older Mambo CMS versions that have not received security updates, making them susceptible to persistent compromise. Organizations may experience data breaches, unauthorized content modification, and potential service disruption. The attack requires minimal technical expertise to execute, as it leverages existing vulnerabilities rather than requiring complex exploitation techniques, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with legacy systems that have not been properly maintained or updated.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-7214 focus on immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary recommendation is to upgrade to MOStlyCE version 2.4 or later, which includes proper CSRF token validation mechanisms. Organizations should also implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all CMS components receive timely security updates. Additional protective measures include implementing proper input validation and output encoding, deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests, and establishing regular security audits of administrative interfaces. The implementation of anti-CSRF tokens in all administrative functions aligns with industry best practices and follows the CWE-352 standard requirements for CSRF protection. Organizations should also consider implementing role-based access controls and monitoring administrative activities to detect unauthorized account creation attempts. Regular security assessments and penetration testing help identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the CMS ecosystem, ensuring comprehensive protection against similar attack vectors.