CVE-2018-10128 in XYHCMS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in XYHCMS 3.5. It has XSS via the test parameter to index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/25/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10128 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within XYHCMS version 3.5, specifically manifesting through the test parameter in the index.php file. This issue falls under the broader category of web application security vulnerabilities that can be exploited to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the CMS framework, allowing malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious payload and submits it through the test parameter in the index.php endpoint. The CMS fails to properly sanitize or escape user input before rendering it in the web page context, creating an environment where JavaScript code can be executed in the victim's browser. This flaw directly maps to CWE-79 which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is sent to a web browser without proper validation or encoding. The vulnerability enables attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of the victim's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks within the context of the compromised web application. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, deface the website content, or even escalate privileges if the CMS has administrative functions accessible through the same vulnerable endpoint. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that CMS platforms often serve as central repositories for website content and user data, making successful exploitation potentially devastating for organizations relying on the affected system. This vulnerability can be classified under the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Scripting, specifically targeting web application interfaces where command execution occurs through user-supplied input.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective immediate fix involves sanitizing all user-supplied input parameters, particularly those used in dynamic content generation, before they are processed or rendered in web pages. Organizations should implement proper HTML escaping routines to ensure that any special characters in user input are properly encoded when displayed in web contexts. Additionally, implementing a Content Security Policy (CSP) header can provide an additional layer of protection against script execution even if input validation is bypassed. Regular security testing including automated vulnerability scanning and manual penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar issues within the application codebase. The fix should also include updating the CMS to the latest available version where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms.