CVE-2017-9547 in BigTree
Summary
by MITRE
admin.php in BigTree through 4.2.18 has a Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability, which allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML by launching an Edit Page action and entering the Navigation Title or Page Title of a page that is scheduled for future publication (aka a pending page change).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9547 affects BigTree CMS versions through 4.2.18 and represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the admin.php component. This vulnerability specifically targets the administrative interface where authenticated users can manipulate page content through the Edit Page functionality. The flaw manifests when users with appropriate privileges attempt to modify navigation titles or page titles for pages scheduled for future publication, creating a persistent vector for malicious code injection. The vulnerability exists within the input validation and output encoding mechanisms of the content management system's administrative backend, where user-supplied data is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to users in the web interface.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an authenticated user with administrative privileges, making it a privilege escalation concern within the application's security model. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting malicious payloads in the Navigation Title or Page Title fields that contain embedded script code. When the system processes these inputs and displays them in the administrative interface, the malicious code executes in the context of other administrators or users who view the affected pages. This creates a persistent threat vector that can compromise the entire administrative session and potentially lead to full system compromise. The vulnerability specifically impacts pages scheduled for future publication, which means that the malicious code remains dormant until the scheduled publication time, making detection more challenging and potentially allowing attackers to establish long-term presence within the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges, steal session cookies, perform unauthorized administrative actions, and potentially gain access to sensitive data. The delayed execution characteristic of scheduled pages means that attackers can plan their attacks more carefully and avoid immediate detection. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically web shell execution, and T1566 for credential access through social engineering. The vulnerability represents a significant risk to organizations using BigTree CMS, as successful exploitation could lead to complete administrative takeover and unauthorized modification of website content.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of the BigTree CMS to version 4.2.19 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as input validation at multiple layers, output encoding for all dynamic content, and regular security audits of administrative interfaces. Implementing proper access controls and monitoring administrative activities can help detect suspicious behavior patterns. The vulnerability highlights the importance of validating all user inputs, particularly in administrative interfaces where privileged actions occur. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads attempting to exploit similar vulnerabilities. Regular security training for administrators and implementing principle of least privilege can reduce the impact of successful exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct thorough penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in their web applications and ensure proper input sanitization across all components of their CMS infrastructure.