CVE-2018-10320 in Frog
Summary
by MITRE
Frog CMS 0.9.5 has XSS via the admin/?/layout/edit layout[name] parameter, aka Edit Layout.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2020
The vulnerability CVE-2018-10320 represents a cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Frog CMS version 0.9.5 within the administrative interface. This issue specifically affects the layout editing functionality where the application fails to properly sanitize user input passed through the layout[name] parameter. The vulnerability exists within the admin/?/layout/edit endpoint, making it accessible to authenticated users with administrative privileges who can manipulate the layout editing feature.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the Frog CMS framework. When administrators attempt to edit layouts through the web interface, the application accepts the layout[name] parameter directly without proper sanitization or encoding before rendering it back to the user. This creates an environment where malicious input can be executed as client-side scripts within the context of the administrator's browser session, effectively enabling persistent cross-site scripting attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it provides attackers with a potential foothold for more sophisticated attacks within the CMS environment. An attacker with administrative access can leverage this vulnerability to inject malicious scripts that can steal session cookies, perform actions on behalf of the administrator, or redirect users to malicious sites. The vulnerability specifically targets the administrative interface, making it particularly dangerous as it could allow unauthorized privilege escalation or complete system compromise. According to CWE classification, this represents a CWE-79: Cross-site Scripting vulnerability, which falls under the category of insecure data handling and input validation failures.
The attack vector requires an authenticated administrative user to interact with the vulnerable page, making it less immediately exploitable compared to server-side vulnerabilities. However, the impact remains significant as it can be combined with other techniques such as social engineering to trick administrators into executing malicious payloads. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, where attackers can execute malicious JavaScript code within the victim's browser context. Organizations should note that this vulnerability specifically affects the layout editing functionality, indicating that the issue is present in the CMS's administrative template rendering system where user-supplied data is not properly escaped.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of the Frog CMS application to version 0.9.6 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding practices within the application codebase can prevent similar issues from occurring in the future. Security measures should include regular security audits of web applications, implementation of Content Security Policy headers, and proper user privilege management to limit the scope of potential attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads attempting to exploit this vulnerability. The fix typically involves ensuring that all user-supplied input is properly escaped before being rendered back to the browser, particularly in administrative interfaces where sensitive functionality is exposed.