CVE-2018-13002 in CMS Core
Summary
by MITRE
An XSS issue was discovered in Inhaltsprojekte in Weblication CMS Core & Grid v12.6.24. The vulnerability is located in the `wFilemanager.php` and `index.php` files of the `/grid5/scripts/` modules. The injection point is located in the Project `Title` and the execution point occurs in the `Inhaltsprojekte` output listing section. Remote attackers with privileged user accounts are able to inject their own malicious script code with a persistent attack vector to compromise user session credentials or to manipulate the affected web-application module output context. The request method to inject is POST.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/23/2020
This cross-site scripting vulnerability exists within the Weblication CMS Core & Grid version 12.6.24 affecting the Inhaltsprojekte module. The flaw manifests in two primary files: wFilemanager.php and index.php located within the /grid5/scripts/ directory structure. The vulnerability specifically targets the Project Title input field which serves as the injection vector for malicious script code. When exploited, this weakness allows attackers to execute scripts within the context of other users' browsers who view the affected content. The persistence of this attack vector means that malicious code remains embedded in the application's output until manually removed, creating a sustained threat to user sessions and data integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows the classic XSS attack pattern where user-supplied input containing script tags or malicious JavaScript code is not properly sanitized or escaped before being rendered in the web application's output. The injection occurs through POST requests, which indicates that attackers need to submit data through form submissions rather than simply manipulating URL parameters. This requirement for authenticated access provides a layer of protection while simultaneously creating a dangerous scenario where compromised privileged accounts can be leveraged for persistent attacks. The vulnerability affects the Inhaltsprojekte output listing section, meaning that any user viewing the project listings could potentially be exposed to the malicious scripts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution to encompass serious session hijacking capabilities and potential data manipulation. Attackers with privileged user accounts can craft malicious payloads that persist in the application's database or configuration files, ensuring that any user accessing the affected project listings will execute the injected code. This creates a vector for credential theft, session manipulation, and potential privilege escalation within the CMS environment. The persistent nature of the attack means that even after initial exploitation, the malicious code continues to affect users until the vulnerability is patched or the infected data is manually removed, making it particularly dangerous for organizations relying on the CMS for content management and user authentication.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all user input, particularly in fields that will be displayed in web interfaces, using proper HTML entity encoding before rendering content. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against script execution. Organizations should also enforce strict access controls and monitor for unusual POST request patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. According to CWE guidelines, this vulnerability maps to CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications. The attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1531 for Account Access Removal, as the vulnerability enables persistent access to user sessions and potential account compromise through session hijacking. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future releases of the CMS.