CVE-2018-14029 in wityCMS
Summary
by MITRE
CSRF vulnerability in admin/user/edit in Creatiwity wityCMS 0.6.2 allows an attacker to take over a user account, as demonstrated by modifying the account's email field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/02/2024
The CVE-2018-14029 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the Creatiwity wityCMS 0.6.2 administrative interface. This vulnerability exists specifically within the admin/user/edit endpoint, making it a prime target for attackers seeking unauthorized access to user accounts. The flaw allows malicious actors to manipulate user account details through forged requests, with email field modification serving as the primary demonstration of the vulnerability's exploitability. The vulnerability stems from the absence of proper anti-CSRF token validation mechanisms in the administrative user editing functionality, creating a significant security gap that undermines the integrity of the content management system's user management processes.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability operates by exploiting the trust relationship between the web application and its authenticated users. When an administrator navigates to the user editing interface, the application should validate that the request originates from a legitimate source by requiring a unique anti-CSRF token. However, in this case, the system fails to implement proper token validation, allowing attackers to craft malicious requests that appear to come from authenticated users. The vulnerability is classified as a CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery conditions in web applications, making it a well-documented and widely recognized security weakness in web development practices. Attackers can leverage this flaw by constructing specially crafted web pages or email attachments that, when visited by an authenticated administrator, automatically submit requests to modify user account details without the administrator's knowledge or consent.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-14029 extends beyond simple account compromise, as it provides attackers with a foothold for further exploitation within the web application environment. By modifying user email addresses, attackers can potentially intercept password reset emails, effectively locking out legitimate users while gaining control over their accounts. This vulnerability particularly affects systems where administrative privileges are not properly isolated or where users have elevated access levels within the CMS. The attack vector typically involves social engineering techniques where administrators are tricked into visiting malicious websites or clicking on compromised links, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrators frequently access potentially untrusted web content. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which describes legitimate credentials usage through the exploitation of administrative access points within web applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements within the CMS infrastructure. The primary fix involves implementing robust anti-CSRF token mechanisms throughout the administrative interface, ensuring that all state-changing operations require valid, time-bound tokens that are generated per session and validated on each request. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts, enhanced session management with proper timeout mechanisms, and regular security audits of web application interfaces. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks, particularly focusing on input validation and proper authentication mechanisms. Regular security updates and patch management procedures should be implemented to ensure that CMS versions are current with the latest security mitigations, preventing similar vulnerabilities from persisting in production environments.