CVE-2012-6434 in e107
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities in e107_admin/download.php in e107 1.0.2 allow remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that conduct SQL injection attacks via the (1) download_url, (2) download_url_extended, (3) download_author_email, (4) download_author_website, (5) download_image, (6) download_thumb, (7) download_visible, or (8) download_class parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2024
The CVE-2012-6434 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery weakness discovered in the e107 content management system version 1.0.2, specifically within the administrative download management component. This vulnerability operates as a sophisticated attack vector that enables remote threat actors to manipulate administrative sessions and execute malicious operations under elevated privileges. The flaw exists in the download.php administrative script where multiple parameters lack proper authentication verification mechanisms, creating a pathway for unauthorized modifications to the system's download database entries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of anti-CSRF tokens and proper session validation within the administrative interface. Attackers can exploit the eight vulnerable parameters including download_url, download_url_extended, download_author_email, download_author_website, download_image, download_thumb, download_visible, and download_class to craft malicious requests that appear legitimate to the administrative system. These parameters are processed without adequate verification of the originating user's authorization, allowing attackers to manipulate database entries through forged administrative requests. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by the fact that these modifications can include SQL injection payloads that execute within the administrative context, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data manipulation, as it provides attackers with a direct pathway to execute SQL injection attacks through the administrative interface. When administrators process malicious download entries, the SQL injection payloads embedded within the parameters can execute commands on the underlying database server, potentially allowing attackers to extract sensitive information, modify user accounts, or even escalate privileges to full system control. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill and can be automated, making it particularly dangerous for organizations running vulnerable e107 installations. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that the administrative interface typically has elevated privileges and access to critical system resources.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a classic example of insufficient anti-CSRF protection mechanisms, which aligns with CWE-352, Cross-Site Request Forgery. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation and session management practices that violate fundamental security principles. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1078 Valid Accounts and T1213 Data from Information Repositories, as attackers can leverage compromised administrative sessions to access and manipulate sensitive data repositories. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including the deployment of anti-CSRF tokens, comprehensive input validation, and session management enhancements. The recommended remediation involves updating to patched versions of e107, implementing proper authentication checks for all administrative parameters, and establishing network monitoring to detect suspicious administrative activities. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their web applications to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components that may be susceptible to cross-site request forgery attacks.