CVE-2018-14858 in iCMS
Summary
by MITRE
An SSRF vulnerability was discovered in idreamsoft iCMS before V7.0.11 because the remote function in app/spider/spider_tools.class.php does not block private and reserved IP addresses such as 10.0.0.0/8. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2018-14514.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/29/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-14858 represents a server-side request forgery flaw in the idreamsoft iCMS content management system prior to version 7.0.11. This issue stems from inadequate input validation within the remote function located in the app/spider/spider_tools.class.php file. The flaw specifically fails to properly filter or block access to private and reserved IP address ranges, including the 10.0.0.0/8 network segment which encompasses private addresses used internally within organizations. This oversight creates a significant security risk as attackers can potentially exploit this weakness to make unauthorized requests to internal systems that would normally be protected by network segmentation. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows attackers to bypass normal network security controls and potentially access sensitive internal resources that should remain isolated from external networks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in network address validation logic where the remote function does not adequately sanitize user-supplied URLs or IP addresses before processing them. When users provide input to the spider functionality, the system attempts to fetch content from remote locations but fails to properly validate that the requested addresses fall within acceptable public network ranges. This incomplete validation allows requests to be directed toward private IP addresses such as those in the 10.x.x.x, 172.16.x.x through 172.31.x.x, and 192.168.x.x ranges that are typically reserved for internal network use. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-918, which specifically addresses server-side request forgery vulnerabilities where applications fail to properly validate and restrict access to internal resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure as it enables attackers to potentially perform reconnaissance on internal network infrastructure, access internal web services, and exploit other vulnerabilities within the internal network that are not directly exposed to the internet. Attackers could leverage this weakness to perform internal port scanning, access internal databases, or even attempt to pivot to other systems within the organization's network. This capability significantly increases the attack surface and can lead to more severe consequences including data breaches, privilege escalation, or lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability's existence as a regression from a previous fix for CVE-2018-14514 indicates that the remediation efforts were incomplete, suggesting a pattern of inadequate security testing or review processes that allowed similar issues to persist.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-14858 should focus on implementing proper input validation and network address filtering within the affected application components. Organizations should immediately upgrade to idreamsoft iCMS version 7.0.11 or later where the vulnerability has been properly addressed. Additionally, network administrators should implement firewall rules and access controls to prevent direct communication between the web application servers and internal network segments. The solution should include comprehensive IP address validation that explicitly blocks private, reserved, and loopback addresses from being processed by remote functions. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring solutions to detect and alert on suspicious outbound requests that may indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability exemplifies the importance of thorough regression testing when implementing security patches and the critical need for proper input validation in all network-facing applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, highlighting the need for robust perimeter security measures and proper network architecture design to prevent internal network access from external attack vectors.