CVE-2018-14958 in WeaselCMS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in WeaselCMS v0.3.5. CSRF can update the website settings (such as the theme, title, and description) via index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/13/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-14958 represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within WeaselCMS version 0.3.5 that enables authenticated attackers to manipulate core website configuration parameters without proper authorization. This weakness arises from the absence of adequate anti-CSRF protection mechanisms in the index.php endpoint, which processes administrative updates to website settings. The vulnerability specifically targets the CMS's administrative interface where users can modify essential website attributes including theme selection, title configuration, and descriptive metadata. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting malicious web pages or email attachments that, when visited by an authenticated administrator, automatically submit requests to the vulnerable CMS to alter these critical configuration parameters.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the CMS's failure to validate the origin of administrative requests through proper CSRF token verification. When an administrator navigates to a malicious page while authenticated to the WeaselCMS system, the attacker's payload can trigger unauthorized modifications to the website's fundamental characteristics. This flaw operates under CWE-352, which categorizes cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities as a serious security weakness that allows attackers to perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability demonstrates a direct violation of the principle of least privilege, as it permits unauthorized modification of system configuration parameters that should only be accessible through legitimate administrative sessions with proper authentication and authorization controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration changes, as attackers can potentially compromise the entire website's integrity and user experience. By altering the website theme, attackers can introduce malicious code or redirect users to phishing sites, while modifying the title and description can affect search engine optimization and user trust. The attack vector typically involves social engineering techniques where administrators are tricked into visiting compromised websites or opening malicious email attachments that contain embedded CSRF payloads. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which covers command and control communications, as the compromised website can be used to deliver malicious payloads to unsuspecting visitors. The exploitation of this flaw can lead to complete website takeover, data exfiltration, and establishment of persistent backdoors through the modified website configuration.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust anti-CSRF protection mechanisms throughout the CMS's administrative interface. The most effective approach involves implementing unique, cryptographically secure tokens for each user session that are validated before processing any administrative requests. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security layers including proper input validation, session management controls, and regular security auditing of web applications. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and proper HTTP response headers can further reduce the attack surface. System administrators should ensure that all WeaselCMS installations are updated to versions that address this vulnerability, as the original version 0.3.5 lacks the necessary security controls to prevent unauthorized configuration changes. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other CMS components and ensure that proper authorization controls are maintained throughout the application's administrative functions.