CVE-2018-14685 in Gxlcms
Summary
by MITRE
The add function in www/Lib/Lib/Action/Admin/TplAction.class.php in Gxlcms v1.1.4 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a crafted index.php?s=Admin-Tpl-ADD-id request, related to Lib/Common/Admin/function.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/11/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-14685 resides within the Gxlcms content management system version 1.1.4, specifically in the administrative template handling functionality. This flaw manifests in the add function located within the file www/Lib/Lib/Action/Admin/TplAction.class.php, which processes requests through the index.php?s=Admin-Tpl-ADD-id endpoint. The vulnerability represents a classic path traversal or file inclusion flaw that enables unauthorized remote access to sensitive system files.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the administrative template management system. When processing the crafted request through the administrative interface, the system fails to properly validate or sanitize the id parameter, allowing attackers to manipulate the file reading operations. This weakness directly maps to CWE-22, which categorizes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal attacks. The vulnerability operates at the application layer, specifically affecting the web application's file handling mechanisms and demonstrates a lack of proper access controls for administrative functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the ability to read arbitrary files from the server's filesystem. This includes potentially sensitive configuration files, database credentials, application source code, and other confidential data that could lead to further exploitation. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to escalate their privileges, gain deeper system access, or extract critical information that could compromise the entire web application infrastructure. The remote nature of this attack vector means that exploitation can occur from any location without requiring physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that are publicly accessible.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of mitigation for this vulnerability, starting with immediate patching of the Gxlcms application to the latest version that addresses this specific flaw. Input validation should be strengthened to ensure that all parameters passed to administrative functions undergo rigorous sanitization before processing. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by implementing proper access controls that restrict administrative functions to authorized personnel only. Additionally, web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for suspicious patterns in URL parameters that might indicate attempts to exploit path traversal vulnerabilities. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002, which covers data from local system, and represents a critical security gap that requires immediate remediation to prevent potential compromise of the entire web application environment. Organizations should also consider implementing file integrity monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized modifications to critical system files that might occur as a result of successful exploitation attempts.