CVE-2017-6914 in BigTree
Summary
by MITRE
CSRF exists in BigTree CMS 4.1.18 and 4.2.16 with the id parameter to the admin/ajax/users/delete/ page. A user can be deleted.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6914 represents a cross-site request forgery flaw within BigTree CMS versions 4.1.18 and 4.2.16. This security weakness resides in the administrative ajax endpoint designed for user deletion operations, specifically targeting the id parameter within the admin/ajax/users/delete/ page. The flaw allows malicious actors to exploit the lack of proper authentication verification mechanisms, enabling unauthorized deletion of user accounts through crafted requests. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of the request origin and absence of anti-CSRF tokens in the administrative interface, creating a pathway for attackers to manipulate the system's user management functions without proper authorization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic CSRF attack vector where the malicious request can be triggered through various means including phishing emails, compromised websites, or social engineering campaigns. When a legitimate administrator visits a malicious page containing crafted javascript or embedded images that automatically submit requests to the vulnerable BigTree CMS endpoint, the system processes the deletion command without proper verification of the administrator's intent. The id parameter serves as the critical attack vector, accepting user identifiers that are processed without adequate authentication checks or token validation. This flaw aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple user deletion, potentially compromising the entire administrative integrity of the CMS system. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can remove authorized users from the system, potentially including administrators, thereby reducing the system's security posture and creating potential access control issues. The attack requires minimal technical expertise to execute, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrators may be targeted through social engineering or where the CMS is used in high-security environments. The vulnerability affects the authentication and authorization mechanisms within the CMS, potentially leading to further compromise of the system if the deleted user had elevated privileges or if the system lacks proper audit trails.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-6914 should prioritize immediate patching of affected BigTree CMS versions to address the CSRF vulnerability. Organizations should implement proper anti-CSRF token mechanisms throughout the administrative interface, ensuring that all state-changing operations require verification tokens that are tied to the user's session. The implementation should follow ATT&CK technique T1078 which emphasizes credential access and the importance of validating user identity in administrative functions. Additionally, organizations should establish robust input validation and parameter sanitization for all administrative endpoints, particularly those handling user management operations. Network segmentation and monitoring of administrative interfaces can provide additional layers of protection, while regular security assessments should verify that CSRF protections are properly implemented across all administrative functions. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing proper security configuration management practices to prevent similar issues in the future.