CVE-2011-4918 in Elxis
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Elxis CMS 2009.2, 2009.3 and 2009.3 Aphrodite before revision 2684 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) task parameter to elxis/index.php, and (2) PATH_INFO to elxis/administrator/index.php.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/12/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2011-4918 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Elxis CMS versions 2009.2, 2009.3, and the Aphrodite release before revision 2684. This vulnerability exposes the content management system to remote code execution through malicious web script injection, creating significant security risks for organizations relying on this platform. The flaw manifests in two distinct attack vectors that target different components of the CMS architecture, demonstrating the complexity of the vulnerability and its potential impact across multiple system interfaces.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the Elxis CMS core processing mechanisms. Attackers can exploit the vulnerability by manipulating the task parameter in the frontend endpoint elxis/index.php and the PATH_INFO variable in the administrator backend at elxis/administrator/index.php. These parameters are processed without proper sanitization, allowing malicious payloads to be executed within the context of authenticated user sessions. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79 which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding, and the attack follows patterns consistent with CWE-80 which addresses the improper neutralization of script-related HTML tags in various contexts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it enables attackers to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, and potentially escalate privileges within the CMS administration interface. Remote attackers can craft malicious URLs that, when executed by unsuspecting users, would execute arbitrary JavaScript code in their browsers. This capability allows for session cookie theft, credential harvesting, and the potential establishment of persistent backdoors within the compromised system. The vulnerability affects both frontend and backend components, meaning that an attacker could potentially compromise administrative accounts and gain full control over the content management system.
Organizations using affected Elxis CMS versions should immediately implement mitigations including input validation for all user-supplied parameters, output encoding of dynamic content, and the application of web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests. The most effective immediate solution involves updating to revision 2684 or later, which includes proper sanitization routines for the vulnerable parameters. Security professionals should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, and conduct thorough security audits of all CMS installations to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1566 for credential access through social engineering and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, highlighting the multi-faceted nature of attacks that could exploit this flaw. Organizations should also perform regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify and remediate similar issues across their web application infrastructure, ensuring compliance with industry standards such as OWASP Top Ten and NIST Cybersecurity Framework guidelines.