CVE-2018-10235 in POSCMS
Summary
by MITRE
POSCMS 3.2.10 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via the diy\module\member\controllers\admin\Setting.php 'index' function because an attacker can control the value of $cache['setting']['ucssocfg'] in diy\module\member\models\Member_model.php and write this code into the api/ucsso/config.php file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10235 affects POSCMS version 3.2.10 and represents a critical remote code execution flaw that enables attackers to inject and execute arbitrary PHP code on affected systems. This vulnerability specifically manifests through the diy\module\member component, which appears to be a modular extension framework within the content management system. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly filter user-supplied data before processing it within the PHP execution environment.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits malicious input through the member module's diy functionality, which then gets processed without sufficient security controls. This allows the attacker to inject PHP code that gets executed on the server, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-94, which describes weaknesses in the code that allow for the execution of arbitrary code or commands, and more specifically with CWE-434 which addresses insecure file uploads that can lead to code execution. The attack vector is particularly dangerous as it requires no authentication, making it accessible to any remote attacker who can reach the vulnerable system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to establish persistent access to the compromised system. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to install backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, modify content, or use the compromised system as a launching point for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability affects not only the integrity of the CMS but also poses significant risks to the broader infrastructure, as it can be used to escalate privileges and gain administrative control over the entire system. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which describes the use of PHP for command and control operations, and T1078 which covers legitimate credentials for persistence.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must be implemented immediately through the official security patches provided by POSCMS developers, as the vendor has likely released updates addressing this specific flaw. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit access to the vulnerable system, deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, and conducting comprehensive security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application's codebase. Additionally, regular security monitoring and vulnerability scanning should be employed to detect potential exploitation attempts, while access controls should be strengthened to limit who can submit data to the affected modules. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patches in staging environments before deployment to production systems, ensuring that the fix does not introduce new functionality issues or break existing legitimate features.