CVE-2016-9022 in Exponent
Summary
by MITRE • 12/31/2020
Exponent CMS before 2.6.0 has improper input validation in usersController.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/16/2026
The vulnerability in Exponent CMS before version 2.6.0 stems from inadequate input validation within the usersController.php file, creating a potential pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system through crafted user inputs. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that could allow unauthorized access or system compromise when users interact with the application's user management functionality. The improper validation occurs during the processing of user data, where the application fails to adequately sanitize or verify input parameters before using them in system operations.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-20 category of "Improper Input Validation," which is a fundamental security weakness that occurs when applications fail to properly validate or sanitize input data. The specific implementation flaw in usersController.php suggests that user-supplied parameters are directly processed without sufficient sanitization measures, potentially enabling attackers to inject malicious code or manipulate system behavior. The vulnerability could manifest through various attack vectors including but not limited to cross-site scripting attacks, command injection, or authentication bypass attempts. The lack of proper input validation creates an environment where attacker-controlled data can influence the application's execution flow and potentially lead to unauthorized system access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or display issues, as it could enable attackers to escalate privileges, access sensitive user information, or even take complete control of the CMS instance. When users interact with the application's user management features, any malformed input could be processed without proper validation, potentially allowing for session hijacking, privilege escalation, or data exfiltration. The vulnerability affects the core authentication and authorization mechanisms of the CMS, making it particularly dangerous for organizations relying on Exponent CMS for content management and user administration. Attackers could leverage this weakness to create malicious user accounts, modify existing user permissions, or gain unauthorized access to protected system resources.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation measures across all user-facing interfaces within the CMS. Organizations should immediately upgrade to Exponent CMS version 2.6.0 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and validation controls. The remediation process should involve implementing proper parameter validation, output encoding, and input sanitization techniques to prevent malicious data from being processed. Security measures should include regular input validation testing, implementation of web application firewalls, and comprehensive security auditing of all controller files. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their CMS installations to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components and ensure proper access controls are in place. The fix should align with industry best practices for secure coding as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly focusing on preventing injection attacks and maintaining proper input validation throughout the application lifecycle.