CVE-2008-7243 in MODX
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in page 34 in MODx CMS 0.9.6.1 and 0.9.6.1p1 allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of other users for requests that modify passwords via manager/index.php. NOTE: due to the lack of details, it is not clear whether this is related to CVE-2008-5941.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/18/2018
The CVE-2008-7243 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw discovered in MODx Content Management System versions 0.9.6.1 and 0.9.6.1p1. This vulnerability specifically affects the manager interface at manager/index.php and enables remote attackers to manipulate user authentication sessions through maliciously crafted requests. The flaw exists on page 34 of the application's administrative interface, where password modification functionality is exposed without adequate anti-CSRF protection mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from the absence of proper request validation tokens or session integrity checks that would normally prevent unauthorized requests from being executed on behalf of authenticated users.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability allows attackers to construct malicious web pages or email attachments that, when visited by an authenticated user, automatically submit requests to the MODx manager interface. Since the application does not verify the origin of requests or validate that they were intentionally initiated by the user, an attacker can trick a logged-in administrator into executing password change operations without their knowledge or consent. This particular weakness resides in the authentication flow where the system accepts requests to modify user credentials without confirming that the request originated from the legitimate administrative interface rather than a malicious third-party site. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental failure in implementing proper anti-CSRF controls that would normally be expected in web applications handling sensitive user data and administrative functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it directly compromises the integrity of user authentication within the MODx system. An attacker who successfully exploits this CSRF flaw could change passwords for any user account, potentially gaining persistent access to the administrative interface or locking out legitimate users. The vulnerability particularly affects the manager/index.php endpoint which serves as the primary administrative interface, making it a high-value target for attackers seeking to compromise content management systems. This flaw essentially undermines the authentication mechanisms that should protect against unauthorized access to administrative functions, allowing attackers to perform actions that would normally require explicit user consent and authentication. The potential for privilege escalation and unauthorized system access makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where MODx is used for managing sensitive content or applications.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust anti-CSRF protection mechanisms throughout the MODx application, particularly within the manager interface where administrative functions are exposed. The most effective approach involves implementing unique, unpredictable tokens for each user session that must be validated before any state-changing operations are executed. These tokens should be embedded in all forms and requests that modify user credentials or system settings, ensuring that requests can only be executed from legitimate sources within the application. The implementation should follow established security standards such as those outlined in CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities. Additionally, organizations should implement proper session management controls and consider adopting the principles from the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques, particularly those related to credential access and defense evasion. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of validating request sources and implementing comprehensive input validation for all administrative functions, as recommended by industry security best practices and standards.