CVE-2016-4883 in BaserCMS
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting vulnerability in baserCMS version 3.0.10 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-4883 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within baserCMS versions 3.0.10 and earlier, constituting a significant security risk for web applications utilizing this content management system. This vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into web page content. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of affected users' browsers, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information, session hijacking, or defacement of web applications. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability could manifest through multiple input points within the CMS, including but not limited to form fields, URL parameters, or user-generated content areas.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the baserCMS framework. When user-supplied data is processed and rendered on web pages without proper sanitization, malicious scripts can be injected and subsequently executed by other users who view the compromised content. This type of vulnerability typically occurs when developers fail to implement proper context-aware encoding or validation routines for different data contexts such as HTML, JavaScript, or URL parameters. The attack vector allows threat actors to craft malicious payloads that can persist in the application's database and affect multiple users, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where content is shared across different administrative and public interfaces.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-4883 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains that align with ATT&CK technique T1566 - Phishing and T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access through session hijacking, steal administrative credentials, or deploy additional malware payloads. The vulnerability's presence in the content management system creates a potential backdoor for attackers to modify website content, inject malicious advertisements, or redirect users to malicious sites. Organizations using affected baserCMS versions face significant risk of data breaches, reputational damage, and potential compliance violations, particularly in environments where sensitive user information is processed or stored within the CMS infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected baserCMS installations to version 3.0.11 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. System administrators should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application, particularly focusing on user-generated content and form submissions. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments of their web applications, including regular penetration testing and code reviews, to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. Network monitoring and intrusion detection systems should be configured to detect anomalous traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, while regular security training for developers can help prevent the introduction of similar vulnerabilities in future implementations. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against web application attacks.