CVE-2017-7256 in CMS Made Simple
Summary
by MITRE
XSS exists in the CMS Made Simple (CMSMS) 2.1.6 "Content-->News-->Add Article" feature via the m1_summary parameter. Someone must login to conduct the attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2019
The vulnerability CVE-2017-7256 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the CMS Made Simple content management system version 2.1.6. This security weakness specifically manifests in the News module's Add Article functionality, where the m1_summary parameter fails to properly sanitize user input before processing. The vulnerability requires authentication to exploit, meaning that an attacker must first obtain valid credentials to the CMS system before executing the malicious payload. This authentication requirement places the vulnerability in the context of privilege escalation and insider threat scenarios, as it can be leveraged by authenticated users with sufficient permissions to manipulate content.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the CMSMS application's news article creation interface. When administrators or authorized users navigate to the Content-->News-->Add Article section and submit content containing malicious script code within the m1_summary field, the application fails to properly escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as executable JavaScript code. This allows an attacker to inject malicious scripts that will execute in the context of other users' browsers who view the affected content. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-7256 extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it can enable more sophisticated attacks through session hijacking, credential theft, and malicious redirection. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially escalate privileges within the CMS environment or use the compromised user sessions to gain deeper access to the underlying system. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it operates within the legitimate administrative interface of the CMS, making detection more difficult and allowing the malicious code to appear as legitimate content within the application's user interface. This vulnerability can be classified under the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting and T1531 for credential access, as it enables both code execution and potential privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the CMSMS application to version 2.1.7 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the XSS flaw. Administrators should also implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application, particularly within content management interfaces. Regular security audits of CMS applications are essential to identify similar vulnerabilities in other modules or components. Additional protective measures include implementing content security policies to prevent unauthorized script execution, conducting regular security training for administrators, and maintaining strict access controls to limit the number of users with administrative privileges. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization in web applications and the necessity of following secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Top 10 and NIST guidelines for web application security.