CVE-2017-7877 in flatCore
Summary
by MITRE
CSRF vulnerability in flatCore version 1.4.6 allows remote attackers to modify CMS configurations.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/29/2022
The CVE-2017-7877 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw in flatCore version 1.4.6, a content management system designed for simplicity and ease of use. This vulnerability exposes the CMS to unauthorized configuration modifications through malicious web requests that exploit the lack of proper authentication mechanisms. The flaw specifically affects the administrative configuration endpoints within the flatCore platform, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate core system settings without proper authorization.
This vulnerability stems from the absence of anti-CSRF tokens or other protective measures in the administrative interfaces of flatCore 1.4.6. When legitimate users interact with the CMS administration panel, the system fails to validate that requests originate from authorized sources. Attackers can craft malicious web pages or emails containing hidden form submissions that automatically trigger configuration changes on the victim's system. The technical implementation lacks proper request validation, making it susceptible to exploitation through social engineering attacks where users are tricked into visiting malicious sites.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-7877 is substantial as it allows remote attackers to modify critical CMS configurations without requiring authentication credentials. Successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, including the ability to modify user accounts, change system settings, disable security features, or inject malicious code into the CMS. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and undermines the integrity of the administrative functions. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal technical expertise from the attacker and can be executed through standard web-based techniques.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities in software systems. The flaw represents a failure to implement proper session management and request validation controls that are fundamental to web application security. Organizations using flatCore 1.4.6 face significant risk of unauthorized access and configuration manipulation, potentially leading to complete system takeover. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and T1566 which covers social engineering attacks through malicious web content.
The recommended mitigations include immediate patching of flatCore to version 1.4.7 or later, which contains the necessary CSRF protection mechanisms. Organizations should implement proper anti-CSRF token validation throughout all administrative interfaces, ensure that all configuration modification endpoints require proper authentication and session validation, and conduct thorough security testing of web applications. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls, monitoring for suspicious configuration changes, and establishing robust access control policies to limit the impact of potential exploitation attempts. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar flaws in other web applications within the organization's infrastructure.