CVE-2017-20064 in Elefant
Summary
by MITRE • 06/20/2022
A vulnerability was found in Elefant CMS 1.3.12-RC. It has been declared as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the file /designer/add/layout. The manipulation leads to code injection. The attack can be launched remotely. Upgrading to version 1.3.13 is able to address this issue. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/28/2026
This critical vulnerability in Elefant CMS 1.3.12-RC represents a severe code injection flaw that affects the /designer/add/layout functionality within the content management system. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on the target server through manipulation of the affected component, potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive data. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-94, which encompasses weaknesses related to the execution of arbitrary code or commands, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that process user input without proper sanitization.
The technical implementation of this flaw likely involves insufficient input validation or output encoding within the layout designer functionality, where user-supplied parameters are directly incorporated into executable code paths. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious input that bypasses normal security controls and injects harmful code into the system. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not require physical access to the server and can potentially launch attacks from anywhere on the internet, making this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to encompass potential data breaches, system compromise, and service disruption. Organizations running affected Elefant CMS versions face significant risk of unauthorized access to their content management systems, which could result in defacement, data exfiltration, or the installation of backdoors for persistent access. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through scripting languages and T1566 for initial access through web applications, making it a critical vector for advanced persistent threats.
Security practitioners should immediately implement the recommended upgrade to Elefant CMS 1.3.13 which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their deployed systems to identify any potential exploitation attempts or unauthorized modifications that may have occurred prior to the patch deployment. Network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect anomalous traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while access controls and input validation mechanisms should be reviewed and strengthened across all web application components. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current software versions and implementing proper security controls such as web application firewalls and input sanitization to prevent similar issues from compromising system integrity and user data confidentiality.