CVE-2017-11327 in Tilde
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Tilde CMS 1.0.1. It is possible to retrieve sensitive data by using direct references. A low-privileged user can load PHP resources such as admin/content.php and admin/content.php?method=ftp_upload.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/31/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-11327 affects Tilde CMS version 1.0.1 and represents a critical access control flaw that allows unauthorized data retrieval through direct object reference manipulation. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and access restriction mechanisms within the content management system's architecture. The vulnerability enables low-privileged users to bypass normal authentication and authorization checks by directly accessing PHP resource files that should typically be restricted to administrative users. The flaw specifically manifests when users can construct URLs that reference administrative PHP scripts such as admin/content.php and admin/content.php?method=ftp_upload without proper privilege verification.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which describes improper access control conditions, and represents a classic case of insecure direct object reference where the application fails to verify that the requesting user has appropriate authorization to access the requested resource. The technical implementation of this flaw demonstrates a fundamental breakdown in the application's security model where the system relies on URL structure and path traversal for access control rather than implementing proper authentication checks. Attackers can exploit this weakness by simply modifying the URL parameters to access restricted administrative functions, effectively undermining the entire privilege escalation framework that the CMS should enforce.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with direct access to sensitive administrative functions that could lead to complete system compromise. When a low-privileged user can access admin/content.php?method=ftp_upload, they gain the ability to potentially upload malicious files to the server, modify content, access confidential data, and perform other administrative actions that should be restricted to authorized administrators only. This vulnerability essentially allows privilege escalation from a regular user account to administrative privileges without any authentication barriers, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where different levels of access are expected.
From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques such as T1078 Valid Accounts and T1566 Phishing, as it allows attackers to leverage existing user accounts to access restricted functionality. The vulnerability also relates to T1005 Data from Local System and T1021.002 SSH Tunnels, as it enables data exfiltration and potential lateral movement within the system. The remediation approach should focus on implementing proper input validation, access control checks, and authentication verification for all resource requests. Organizations should enforce principle of least privilege, implement proper session management, and ensure that all administrative functions require explicit authentication and authorization checks before execution. Additionally, the system should employ proper URL sanitization and access control lists that prevent direct access to administrative resources by unauthorized users, thereby addressing the root cause of this vulnerability and preventing similar issues in the future.