CVE-2016-4895 in SetucoCMS
Summary
by MITRE
SetucoCMS allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/29/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-4895 affects SetucoCMS, a content management system that permits remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code on the affected system. This represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity and confidentiality of web applications built on this platform. The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and improper sanitization of user-supplied data within the CMS framework, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject and execute malicious code on the target server.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the CMS's failure to properly validate and sanitize user inputs, particularly in areas where content is processed or stored. When authenticated users submit data through various interface components, the system does not adequately filter or escape potentially malicious input before processing or storing it. This allows attackers to craft specially formatted inputs that, when processed by the CMS, result in arbitrary code execution. The flaw is classified under CWE-94, which specifically addresses "Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')" and aligns with the broader category of injection vulnerabilities that have been consistently flagged as critical by security organizations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe threat to organizations using SetucoCMS, as it allows attackers to gain unauthorized control over the web application and potentially the underlying server. The authenticated nature of the exploit means that attackers need valid user credentials to leverage this vulnerability, but once accessed, they can escalate their privileges and execute commands with the same permissions as the authenticated user. This capability enables attackers to modify content, access sensitive data, install malware, or even establish persistent backdoors within the system. The impact extends beyond immediate code execution to include potential data breaches, service disruption, and compromise of the entire web infrastructure.
The attack vector for this vulnerability follows the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059, which encompasses "Command and Scripting Interpreter" and related code execution methods. Attackers typically exploit this by leveraging legitimate administrative functions within the CMS, using the authenticated session to submit malicious payloads through forms or API endpoints. The system's failure to properly validate input parameters means that crafted payloads can bypass security controls and execute directly on the server. Organizations should consider implementing comprehensive input validation mechanisms, output encoding, and principle of least privilege access controls as primary mitigation strategies. Additionally, regular security updates, web application firewalls, and network segmentation can help reduce the attack surface and limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities.