CVE-2018-11474 in Monstra
Summary
by MITRE
Monstra CMS 3.0.4 has a Session Management Issue in the Administrations Tab. A password change at admin/index.php?id=users&action=edit&user_id=1 does not invalidate a session that is open in a different browser.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-11474 represents a critical session management flaw within Monstra CMS version 3.0.4, specifically affecting the administrative interface. This issue manifests in the administrative tab where user authentication sessions are not properly invalidated when administrative password changes occur, creating a persistent security risk that undermines the integrity of the CMS's access control mechanisms.
The technical flaw resides in the session handling logic of the CMS where the system fails to implement proper session invalidation procedures upon password modifications. When an administrator modifies their password through the user management interface at the specified endpoint, the system does not terminate existing sessions that were established prior to the password change. This creates a scenario where an attacker who has gained access to a valid session token can continue to operate within the administrative environment even after the legitimate user has changed their credentials, effectively bypassing the intended security controls.
This vulnerability directly impacts the operational security posture of Monstra CMS installations by enabling session hijacking attacks and unauthorized administrative access. The flaw allows attackers to maintain persistence within the system even after legitimate users have taken steps to secure their accounts through password changes. The issue is particularly concerning because it affects the core administrative functionality, potentially enabling full system compromise through unauthorized access to critical administrative controls and data modification capabilities.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-613, which addresses Insufficient Session Expiration, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1563.002 for credentials from password reuse. The persistence mechanism created by this flaw allows attackers to maintain access to administrative functions without detection, potentially enabling data exfiltration, system modification, or further lateral movement within the network. Organizations using Monstra CMS 3.0.4 are particularly vulnerable to these attacks as the flaw exists at the authentication layer rather than in application logic or network protocols.
The recommended mitigation strategies include immediate implementation of proper session invalidation procedures upon password changes, deployment of session management patches provided by the CMS developers, and regular security assessments of authentication mechanisms. Organizations should also implement additional monitoring controls to detect unusual session behavior and establish robust session timeout policies. The fix should ensure that all active sessions are terminated when password changes occur, preventing the scenario where a session remains valid despite credential modifications, thereby restoring the expected security boundaries of the administrative interface.