CVE-2017-16799 in CMS Made Simple
Summary
by MITRE
In CMS Made Simple 2.2.3.1, in modules/New/action.addcategory.php, stored XSS is possible via the m1_name parameter to admin/moduleinterface.php during addition of a category, a related issue to CVE-2010-3882.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/05/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-16799 represents a stored cross-site scripting flaw within CMS Made Simple version 2.2.3.1 that specifically affects the module management interface. This security weakness exists in the file modules/New/action.addcategory.php and manifests when administrators add new categories through the admin/moduleinterface.php endpoint. The vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that persist in the application's database and execute whenever the affected page is accessed by authenticated users with appropriate privileges. The flaw is particularly concerning because it operates as a stored XSS attack, meaning that malicious payloads are permanently stored on the server rather than being reflected in a single request, making the attack more persistent and potentially more damaging.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the category addition process. When administrators enter data through the m1_name parameter during category creation, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied content before storing it in the database. This allows malicious actors to submit script tags or other malicious code that gets stored alongside legitimate category data. The vulnerability is classified as CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security where input data is not properly escaped or validated before being rendered in web pages. This particular instance demonstrates how legacy vulnerabilities can persist across versions, as it is related to CVE-2010-3882, indicating a pattern of insufficient sanitization practices that have not been adequately addressed in the application's codebase.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges, steal session cookies, perform actions on behalf of authenticated users, and potentially gain full administrative control over the CMS. Since the vulnerability affects the administrative interface, successful exploitation could allow attackers to modify or delete content, create new user accounts, install malicious modules, or even compromise the entire web server hosting the CMS. The persistence of stored XSS makes this attack particularly dangerous because it can affect multiple users over time without requiring repeated exploitation attempts. Attackers could craft malicious category names that contain JavaScript payloads designed to steal administrator credentials, redirect users to phishing sites, or perform other malicious activities that leverage the elevated privileges of authenticated administrators.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-16799 should focus on immediate patching of the CMS Made Simple application to the latest secure version that addresses this vulnerability. Organizations should also implement input validation controls at multiple layers including application-level sanitization of user inputs, output encoding of all dynamic content, and regular security auditing of module interfaces. Network-based protections such as web application firewalls can help detect and block malicious payloads, while security monitoring should be enhanced to identify unusual administrative activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software, implementing proper security controls like CSP headers, and conducting regular security assessments of content management systems. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, and T1548.001 - Abuse Elevation Control Mechanisms, as it enables attackers to execute malicious scripts and potentially escalate privileges within the CMS environment. Additionally, this vulnerability underscores the necessity of principle of least privilege implementation and regular security training for administrators to prevent successful exploitation of such persistent security flaws.