CVE-2017-8098 in e107
Summary
by MITRE
e107 2.1.4 is vulnerable to cross-site request forgery in plugin-installing, meta-changing, and settings-changing. A malicious web page can use forged requests to make e107 download and install a plug-in provided by the attacker.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/02/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8098 affects e107 version 2.1.4 and represents a critical cross-site request forgery weakness that undermines the security integrity of the content management system. This flaw exists within the plugin installation, meta modification, and settings change functionalities of the platform, creating a pathway for attackers to manipulate the system through malicious web pages that forge legitimate requests. The vulnerability stems from the absence of proper anti-forgery tokens or validation mechanisms in the affected administrative functions, allowing unauthorized parties to execute operations on behalf of authenticated users without their knowledge or consent. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in software applications.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability enables attackers to craft malicious web pages that automatically submit requests to the vulnerable e107 installation, compelling the system to download and install plugins hosted on attacker-controlled servers. This process bypasses normal security controls and user authentication mechanisms, as the forged requests appear legitimate to the server due to the lack of proper validation. The attack vector operates through standard web browser behavior where users visiting malicious sites unknowingly trigger the forged requests, leveraging the existing session cookies and authentication state to perform unauthorized actions. The implications extend beyond simple plugin installation since the attacker-controlled plugins could contain malicious code designed to compromise the entire system, steal user data, or establish persistent backdoors.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-8098 is severe and multifaceted, as it allows for complete compromise of the affected e107 installation through unauthorized plugin deployment. Once an attacker successfully installs a malicious plugin, they gain significant control over the website's functionality and can potentially escalate privileges, modify content, access user databases, or use the compromised system as a launching point for further attacks against other systems. The vulnerability affects the core administrative functions of the platform, making it particularly dangerous as it undermines the trust model between legitimate users and the system. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for executing malicious code through compromised web applications, and T1078.004 for gaining access through valid accounts. The attack can be executed with minimal technical expertise, making it a particularly attractive target for threat actors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-8098 should prioritize immediate patching of the e107 installation to version 2.1.5 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes to prevent the forgery attacks. Organizations should also implement additional security measures including the deployment of web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious requests, implementation of proper anti-forgery token validation mechanisms, and regular security audits of installed plugins and themes. Network-level protections such as Content Security Policy headers and strict session management practices can further reduce the attack surface. Additionally, administrators should conduct regular security training for users to recognize phishing attempts that might lead to exploitation of this vulnerability, as social engineering remains a common initial vector for such attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect web applications from unauthorized modifications.