CVE-2018-12043 in Symphony
Summary
by MITRE
content/content.blueprintspages.php in Symphony 2.7.6 has XSS via the pages content page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-12043 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the Symphony CMS content management system version 2.7.6. This issue specifically affects the content blueprint pages functionality, where user input is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to the browser. The vulnerability exists in the pages content page component, making it accessible to authenticated users who can manipulate content through the administrative interface. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or unauthorized actions within the CMS environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the Symphony CMS codebase. When administrators or users navigate to the pages content page, the system fails to properly escape or filter user-supplied content before displaying it in the web interface. This creates an opportunity for attackers to inject javascript code, html tags, or other malicious payloads through content fields that are subsequently rendered without proper sanitization. The vulnerability manifests as a classic reflected cross-site scripting issue where the malicious content is stored in the system and then executed when other users view the affected pages. This type of vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as "Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')", which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-12043 extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with potential access to administrative functions and sensitive data within the Symphony CMS environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could execute arbitrary javascript code in the browser of authenticated users, potentially stealing session cookies, modifying content, or performing actions with the privileges of the affected users. This could lead to complete compromise of the CMS, allowing unauthorized modifications to website content, user account takeovers, or even lateral movement within the network if the CMS is integrated with other systems. The attack vector requires minimal privileges since it targets the administrative content management interface, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users have access to content editing capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-12043 should focus on immediate remediation through the official Symphony CMS update process, as version 2.7.7 and later releases contain patches addressing this vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout their web applications, ensuring that all user-supplied content is properly sanitized before being stored or displayed. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Security teams should also conduct regular security assessments of their CMS installations, including vulnerability scanning and code review processes that specifically target input validation and output encoding practices. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript' and T1566 for 'Phishing' as attackers could leverage this vulnerability to deliver malicious payloads to unsuspecting users, making it a critical component of enterprise security posture management.