CVE-2011-4947 in e107
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in e107_admin/users_extended.php in e107 before 0.7.26 allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that insert cross-site scripting (XSS) sequences via the user_include parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2019
The CVE-2011-4947 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw in the e107 content management system that specifically targets the administrative interface. This vulnerability exists within the users_extended.php file and affects e107 versions prior to 0.7.26, creating a significant security risk for web applications that rely on this platform for content management and user administration. The flaw enables remote attackers to exploit the authentication mechanisms of administrators through carefully crafted malicious requests that leverage the user_include parameter.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation and sanitization of user input within the administrative section of the e107 system. When administrators access the extended user management functionality, the system fails to properly verify the authenticity of requests originating from legitimate administrative sessions. The user_include parameter serves as the primary attack vector where malicious actors can inject XSS sequences that are subsequently executed within the administrative context. This creates a dangerous chain reaction where an attacker can manipulate the administrative interface to perform unauthorized actions while appearing to be authenticated as a legitimate administrator.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables attackers to inject malicious scripts that can persist within the administrative environment. The combination of CSRF and XSS exploitation means that attackers can not only hijack administrator sessions but also establish persistent backdoors or exfiltrate sensitive data through the compromised administrative interface. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that use e107 for managing sensitive user data, as the administrative access provides extensive privileges over user accounts, content management, and system configuration settings.
The security implications of CVE-2011-4947 align with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities, and also relates to CWE-79, covering Cross-Site Scripting flaws. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence within web applications. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it targets the administrative interface, which typically contains the most sensitive operations and data within a web application. Organizations relying on vulnerable versions of e107 face significant risk of unauthorized access to user accounts, content manipulation, and potential data breaches that could compromise entire web applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected e107 installations to version 0.7.26 or later, which includes proper CSRF token validation and input sanitization mechanisms. Additionally, administrators should implement proper session management practices, including secure cookie attributes and regular session invalidation procedures. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, though the most effective solution remains the immediate application of vendor security patches. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments of their e107 installations to identify any other potential vulnerabilities that may have been exploited through similar attack vectors.