CVE-2017-9548 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 a Home Template Edit Page action and entering the Navigation 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-2017-9548 affects BigTree CMS versions through 4.2.18 and represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw that undermines the security of the administrative interface. This vulnerability specifically targets the admin.php component and exploits a weakness in how the system handles user input during the Home Template Edit Page action. The flaw occurs when authenticated users with administrative privileges attempt to modify navigation titles for pages scheduled for future publication, creating an attack vector that can be leveraged by malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code into the application's response.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the BigTree content management system. When administrators edit navigation titles for pending page changes, the system fails to properly escape or filter user-supplied content before rendering it back to the browser. This oversight creates a persistent cross-site scripting condition that allows attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of the victim's browser session. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only authenticated access to the administrative interface, meaning that any user with valid administrative credentials can exploit this flaw to compromise the system.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-9548 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to escalate their privileges, steal session cookies, perform unauthorized administrative actions, and potentially exfiltrate sensitive data from the CMS. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to create persistent backdoors, modify content, or gain access to other administrative functions within the BigTree system. The fact that the vulnerability affects scheduled future publications makes it particularly dangerous as it can remain undetected for extended periods, allowing attackers to establish footholds within the system without immediate detection. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script execution through web interfaces.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability requires immediate patching of the affected BigTree CMS versions to the latest available release that addresses the XSS flaw. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation measures, including proper HTML escaping and sanitization of all user-supplied content before rendering it in the administrative interface. Additionally, implementing content security policies and employing web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection against similar attacks. Security teams should conduct thorough code reviews to identify and remediate similar input validation weaknesses throughout the application. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to detect potential cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in other components of the CMS, ensuring that the system maintains robust security posture against evolving threats. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and output encoding in web applications, particularly within administrative interfaces where privileged access can lead to severe system compromise.