CVE-2013-4793 in Umbraco
Summary
by MITRE
The update function in umbraco.webservices/templates/templateService.cs in the TemplateService component in Umbraco CMS before 6.0.4 does not require authentication, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary ASP.NET code via a crafted SOAP request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/28/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-4793 resides within the Umbraco Content Management System's TemplateService component, specifically in the update function located at umbraco.webservices.templates.templateService.cs. This critical security flaw affects Umbraco versions prior to 6.0.4 and represents a severe authentication bypass vulnerability that fundamentally compromises the system's security posture. The vulnerability stems from the absence of proper authentication mechanisms within the SOAP web service endpoint, creating an exploitable pathway for unauthorized remote code execution.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within the realm of authentication bypass attacks and remote code execution flaws. The update function in the TemplateService component fails to validate user credentials or session tokens before processing incoming SOAP requests, allowing any remote attacker to submit malicious payloads through the exposed web service interface. This authentication gap enables attackers to execute arbitrary ASP.NET code on the target server, effectively granting them full control over the CMS environment. The vulnerability operates at the web service layer where SOAP requests are processed, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through standard network protocols without requiring prior access to the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with complete administrative control over the affected Umbraco installation. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to modify templates, inject malicious code, access sensitive data, manipulate content, and potentially use the compromised system as a launching point for further attacks within the network. The implications are particularly severe for organizations relying on Umbraco for their web presence, as the vulnerability can be exploited from anywhere on the internet without requiring any special privileges or credentials. This makes it an attractive target for automated exploitation tools and malicious actors seeking to compromise web applications at scale.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to Umbraco version 6.0.4 or later, which addresses this authentication bypass vulnerability through proper credential validation mechanisms. Additional mitigations include implementing network-level restrictions to limit access to the SOAP web service endpoints, configuring firewall rules to restrict access to the affected ports, and monitoring network traffic for suspicious SOAP request patterns. Security practitioners should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious SOAP requests targeting the vulnerable TemplateService component. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses authentication failures, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for remote code execution through web services, making it a critical concern for organizations following security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 standards.