CVE-2017-3189 in dotCMS Administration Panel
Summary
by MITRE
The dotCMS administration panel, versions 3.7.1 and earlier, "Push Publishing" feature in Enterprise Pro is vulnerable to arbitrary file upload. When "Bundle" tar.gz archives uploaded to the Push Publishing feature are decompressed, there are no checks on the types of files which the bundle contains. This vulnerability combined with the path traversal vulnerability (CVE-2017-3188) can lead to remote command execution with the permissions of the user running the dotCMS application. An unauthenticated remote attacker may perform actions with the dotCMS administrator panel with the same permissions of a victim user or execute arbitrary system commands with the permissions of the user running the dotCMS application.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3189 affects the dotCMS content management system, specifically targeting versions 3.7.1 and earlier within the Enterprise Pro edition. This flaw exists within the Push Publishing feature, which is designed to facilitate content distribution across multiple environments. The security weakness stems from inadequate validation mechanisms during the processing of bundle archives, creating a critical pathway for malicious actors to compromise system integrity. The vulnerability operates through a combination of two distinct flaws that amplify each other's impact, demonstrating the importance of layered security controls in web applications.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when tar.gz archives are uploaded through the Push Publishing functionality and subsequently decompressed without proper file type validation. This absence of content verification creates an arbitrary file upload condition that allows attackers to place malicious files within the application's file system. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it combines with CVE-2017-3188, a path traversal vulnerability, to create a complete remote code execution chain. When these vulnerabilities work in tandem, attackers can bypass normal file system restrictions and execute commands with the privileges of the dotCMS application process. The combination of these flaws represents a sophisticated attack vector that leverages multiple weaknesses to achieve system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass full system compromise. An unauthenticated attacker can leverage this vulnerability to gain administrative access to the dotCMS administration panel, effectively elevating their privileges to match those of legitimate users with administrative capabilities. More critically, the vulnerability can be exploited to execute arbitrary system commands, potentially allowing attackers to gain complete control over the underlying server. This level of access enables attackers to modify content, exfiltrate sensitive data, install backdoors, or use the compromised system as a launch point for further attacks within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security model of the content management system, undermining the trust boundary between legitimate users and the application's file system.
Organizations utilizing affected dotCMS versions should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability. The primary recommendation involves upgrading to a patched version of the software that resolves both the arbitrary file upload and path traversal issues. Until such upgrades are possible, administrators should restrict access to the Push Publishing feature through network-level controls, implement strict file type validation, and monitor for suspicious file upload activities. Security professionals should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious upload attempts, while establishing comprehensive logging and monitoring for file system modifications. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-434, which describes insecure file upload vulnerabilities, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of remote services. The incident underscores the critical importance of validating all user-supplied content and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to prevent cascading security failures in enterprise applications.