CVE-2017-6068 in Subrion CMS
Summary
by MITRE
Subrion CMS 4.0.5 has CSRF in admin/blocks/add/. The attacker can create any block, and can optionally insert XSS via the content parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6068 affects Subrion CMS version 4.0.5 and represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the administrative interface. This issue specifically targets the admin/blocks/add/ endpoint, which allows authenticated administrators to create new blocks within the content management system. The CSRF vulnerability enables attackers to manipulate the administrative functions without the victim's knowledge or consent, potentially leading to unauthorized modifications of the website's structure and content. The flaw resides in the lack of proper anti-CSRF token validation within the block creation process, making it susceptible to exploitation through carefully crafted malicious requests that can be triggered when administrators navigate to compromised websites or click on malicious links.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of a valid anti-CSRF token mechanism in the administrative block creation form. When an administrator accesses the add block functionality, the system should validate that the request originates from a legitimate administrative session rather than from an external malicious source. However, in this case, the application fails to enforce proper session validation or token-based authentication for the block creation endpoint. This allows an attacker to construct a malicious request that, when executed by an authenticated administrator, results in the creation of arbitrary blocks within the CMS. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it not only permits unauthorized block creation but also allows for potential cross-site scripting injection through the content parameter, creating a multi-layered threat vector.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-6068 extends beyond simple unauthorized block creation, as it provides attackers with a potential pathway for persistent malicious activities within the compromised website. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to inject malicious scripts into blocks, which would then execute in the context of other users visiting the affected pages. This capability significantly increases the attack surface and allows for various malicious operations including session hijacking, data exfiltration, defacement, or the establishment of backdoors within the website infrastructure. The vulnerability also undermines the integrity of the content management system by allowing unauthorized modifications to the site's structure, potentially disrupting normal operations or creating confusion among legitimate users. Additionally, the persistence of malicious blocks makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can remain active even after the initial attack vector is neutralized.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations to protect their Subrion CMS installations. The primary remediation involves implementing proper anti-CSRF token validation across all administrative endpoints, ensuring that each request contains a valid, session-specific token that prevents unauthorized modifications. Security patches should be applied immediately to update the CMS to a version that addresses this vulnerability, while administrators should also implement proper input validation and sanitization for all user-provided content, particularly within the content parameter of block creation forms. Network-based mitigations such as web application firewalls can provide additional protection by monitoring for suspicious request patterns and blocking known malicious payloads. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery, and represents a significant concern under the ATT&CK framework category of privilege escalation and persistence. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments of their administrative interfaces to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities that may exist within their broader web application infrastructure.