CVE-2017-6918 in BigTree
Summary
by MITRE
CSRF exists in BigTree CMS 4.2.16 with the value[#][*] parameter to the admin/settings/update/ page. The Navigation Social can be changed.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6918 represents a cross-site request forgery flaw within BigTree CMS version 4.2.16 that specifically targets the administrative settings update functionality. This issue resides in the admin/settings/update/ endpoint where the value[#][*] parameter is improperly validated, creating an exploitable condition that allows unauthorized modification of social navigation settings. The vulnerability stems from the absence of proper anti-CSRF tokens or validation mechanisms when processing requests to update administrative configurations, particularly those related to social media integration and navigation elements.
The technical implementation of this flaw demonstrates a classic CSRF vulnerability pattern where the application fails to verify the authenticity of requests originating from authorized administrative users. When an attacker crafts a malicious request targeting the admin/settings/update/ endpoint with the value[#][*] parameter, they can manipulate the social navigation settings without proper authorization. This occurs because the CMS does not validate that the request originates from a legitimate administrative session or contains appropriate security tokens to prevent unauthorized modifications. The vulnerability specifically affects the navigation social settings, which can be altered to redirect users to malicious websites or inject unwanted content into the CMS interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration changes, as it provides attackers with potential pathways for more extensive system compromise. By modifying social navigation settings, attackers could redirect users to phishing sites, inject malicious scripts, or manipulate the CMS interface to hide malicious activities. This type of vulnerability can serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, potentially allowing threat actors to escalate privileges, access sensitive administrative functions, or establish persistent backdoors within the CMS environment. The vulnerability affects the integrity and availability of the administrative interface, potentially compromising the entire content management system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-6918 should focus on implementing robust anti-CSRF protection mechanisms within the BigTree CMS framework. Organizations should ensure that all administrative endpoints validate the presence and correctness of anti-CSRF tokens before processing any configuration updates. The implementation should follow established security practices including the use of unique tokens for each user session, proper token validation, and ensuring that all administrative functions require explicit authentication verification. Additionally, regular security updates and patch management should be implemented to address known vulnerabilities in the CMS platform. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery issues, and may be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1546 for privilege escalation through application access. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based security controls and monitoring for suspicious administrative activities to detect potential exploitation attempts.