CVE-2016-4878 in BaserCMS
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in baserCMS version 3.0.10 and earlier allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2020
The CVE-2016-4878 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw identified in baserCMS versions 3.0.10 and earlier, fundamentally compromising the security integrity of administrator authentication mechanisms. This vulnerability classifies under CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities, making it a well-documented and widely recognized threat pattern in web application security. The flaw enables remote attackers to exploit the authentication system by tricking administrators into executing unauthorized commands through malicious requests that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the absence of proper anti-CSRF measures within the baserCMS framework, particularly in its administrative interfaces. Attackers can craft malicious web pages or emails containing embedded requests that, when visited by an authenticated administrator, automatically submit requests to the vulnerable baserCMS instance. These requests leverage the administrator's existing session to perform actions such as changing user permissions, modifying content, or accessing sensitive administrative functions without the administrator's knowledge or consent. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that the vulnerability could be exploited through multiple attack surfaces including form submissions, API endpoints, or even AJAX requests that lack proper token validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or modification, as it provides attackers with elevated privileges within the compromised system. Administrators who visit malicious websites or click on compromised links become unwitting agents in executing attacks against their own systems. This creates a significant risk for organizations relying on baserCMS for content management, as unauthorized modifications to website content, user accounts, or system configurations can occur without detection. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations where administrators frequently access web applications from potentially compromised networks or devices, increasing the attack surface for exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-4878 must address the fundamental lack of CSRF protection in the affected baserCMS versions. Organizations should immediately upgrade to baserCMS versions 3.0.11 or later, where the CSRF protection mechanisms have been properly implemented and validated. The remediation process should include implementing proper CSRF token generation and validation for all administrative actions, ensuring that tokens are unique per session and validated server-side before processing any requests. Security measures should also include implementing Content Security Policy headers, enabling SameSite cookies for session management, and conducting thorough security assessments of all web applications to identify similar vulnerabilities. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1548.001 which covers Abuse of System Permissions, as it allows attackers to escalate privileges through unauthorized administrative actions. Organizations must also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous administrative activities that could indicate successful exploitation of this CSRF vulnerability, as the attack often goes undetected until damage has occurred.