CVE-2018-11405 in Kliqqi
Summary
by MITRE
Kliqqi 2.0.2 has CSRF in admin/admin_users.php.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-11405 represents a cross-site request forgery flaw discovered in Kliqqi version 2.0.2 within the administrative user management component. This issue specifically affects the admin_users.php file which handles administrative user accounts and permissions. The vulnerability stems from the absence of proper anti-CSRF mechanisms in the administrative interface, allowing attackers to execute unauthorized administrative actions on behalf of authenticated users. The flaw exists because the application fails to validate the origin of requests or implement proper token-based authentication for sensitive administrative operations.
This vulnerability operates under CWE-352, which categorizes cross-site request forgery flaws as a critical security weakness in web applications. The technical implementation fails to enforce the principle of least privilege and proper request validation, creating an attack surface where malicious actors can manipulate administrative functions without proper authorization. The flaw specifically impacts the administrative user management functionality, potentially allowing attackers to create new administrative accounts, modify existing user permissions, or delete user accounts. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it targets administrative interfaces where privileged operations are performed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation to encompass complete administrative control of the affected system. An attacker could leverage this flaw to establish persistent access to the administrative interface, potentially leading to full system compromise. The vulnerability affects the integrity and availability of the application's user management system, as unauthorized modifications could disrupt legitimate user operations or create backdoor access points. Additionally, the flaw undermines the confidentiality of user data by potentially enabling unauthorized access to sensitive administrative functions that control user permissions and account settings.
Mitigation strategies should include implementing robust anti-CSRF token mechanisms in all administrative operations, validating request origins through proper referer header checks, and ensuring that all administrative functions require explicit user confirmation before execution. The application should enforce the use of unique, unpredictable tokens for each administrative session and validate these tokens against the user's current session state. Security controls should also include implementing proper input validation and output encoding to prevent exploitation of related vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious cross-site requests. The remediation process should follow established security frameworks such as OWASP Top 10 and NIST guidelines for web application security, ensuring that all administrative functions are properly protected against unauthorized access and manipulation.