CVE-2011-4310 in CMSMS
Summary
by MITRE
The news module in CMSMS before 1.9.4.3 allows remote attackers to corrupt new articles.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2011-4310 represents a critical security flaw within the CMS Made Simple content management system affecting versions prior to 1.9.4.3. This issue specifically targets the news module component which is widely used for managing and publishing articles on websites. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the module's article creation and modification processes. Attackers can exploit this weakness to inject malicious data that corrupts new article entries, potentially leading to data integrity compromises and unauthorized content manipulation. The flaw exists in the way the system handles user-supplied data during the article creation workflow, where proper sanitization checks are missing or insufficient. This vulnerability falls under the category of data corruption and input validation failures, which are commonly classified under CWE-1107 and CWE-1108 in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The implications extend beyond simple data corruption as this flaw can be leveraged to create persistent security issues within the CMS environment.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers submit specially crafted input through the news module's article submission interface. The system fails to properly validate or sanitize the data before storing it in the database, allowing malicious payloads to be embedded within article content. This could include malformed HTML, JavaScript code, or other potentially harmful data structures that corrupt the article creation process. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the core functionality of content management, enabling attackers to manipulate published content or create corrupted entries that may cause system instability. The flaw represents a classic case of insufficient data validation where the system trusts user input without proper sanitization, creating an attack surface that can be exploited through various means including web application attacks and potentially cross-site scripting techniques. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability undermines the integrity of the content management system and can lead to unauthorized modifications of published material.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-4310 extends beyond immediate data corruption concerns and can result in significant security breaches within CMS environments. Organizations using affected CMSMS versions face risks including unauthorized content modification, potential injection of malicious code into published articles, and possible escalation to more severe attacks targeting the underlying web application infrastructure. The vulnerability can be exploited by attackers without requiring elevated privileges, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible content management systems. This flaw can be leveraged as part of broader attack campaigns targeting web applications, potentially serving as a foothold for further exploitation or as a vector for distributing malware through compromised content. The attack surface is particularly wide given that the news module is commonly used across numerous websites, making this vulnerability attractive to threat actors seeking widespread impact. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework where it could map to techniques involving data manipulation and application layer attacks. Organizations may experience reputational damage, regulatory compliance issues, and potential legal consequences from content corruption or unauthorized modifications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-4310 require immediate action to upgrade affected CMSMS installations to version 1.9.4.3 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the input validation issues. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures and validate all user-supplied data before processing or storing it within the system. Network security controls including web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for suspicious activity related to article submission endpoints. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within other modules or components of the CMS platform. System administrators should establish monitoring protocols to detect unauthorized content modifications and implement proper access controls to limit who can submit or modify articles within the system. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that include multiple layers of protection against data corruption and input validation attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing content integrity checks and regular backups to ensure rapid recovery from potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, security awareness training for content managers and administrators can help reduce the risk of exploitation through social engineering or insider threats that might leverage this vulnerability.