CVE-2018-11317 in Subrion CMS
Summary
by MITRE
Subrion CMS before 4.1.4 has XSS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/17/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-11317 represents a cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Subrion CMS versions prior to 4.1.4. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users, creating a significant security risk for websites utilizing this content management system. The vulnerability manifests when user input is not properly sanitized before being rendered in web pages, enabling malicious actors to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of a victim's browser session.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability occurs through insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Subrion CMS framework. When users submit content or interact with certain application features, the system fails to adequately sanitize the input data before storing or displaying it. This weakness enables attackers to embed malicious script payloads within form fields, URL parameters, or other user-controllable input areas. The vulnerability affects multiple components of the CMS including but not limited to user comments, article submissions, and administrative interfaces where user input is processed and displayed without proper sanitization measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, and unauthorized administrative access. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to steal cookies, modify website content, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The severity is amplified by the fact that Subrion CMS is widely used for various web applications, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could affect numerous websites simultaneously. The attack surface is broad since XSS vulnerabilities typically affect multiple application components and user interaction points, making comprehensive remediation challenging.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-11317 require immediate application of the official security patch released by Subrion CMS developers for versions 4.1.4 and later. Organizations should implement robust input validation mechanisms, employ proper output encoding techniques, and establish comprehensive content security policies to prevent similar vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include thorough code review of all user input handling components, implementation of web application firewalls, and regular security testing to identify potential injection points. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing the principle of least privilege and ensure that user sessions are properly managed with secure cookie attributes to minimize the potential impact of successful XSS attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing defense-in-depth strategies as outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework for web application security.