CVE-2018-15565 in simple-cms
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in daveismyname simple-cms through 2014-03-11. admin/addpage.php does not require authentication for adding a page. This can also be exploited via CSRF.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/16/2020
This vulnerability exists in the simple-cms content management system version 2014-03-11 and earlier, representing a critical authentication bypass flaw that allows unauthenticated users to perform administrative actions. The issue is specifically located in the admin/addpage.php component which fails to implement proper authentication checks before permitting page addition functionality. This fundamental security weakness enables attackers to exploit the system without requiring valid credentials, effectively granting them administrative privileges to modify website content. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the administrative interface level where sensitive operations are typically restricted to authorized personnel only. The flaw persists across multiple versions of the software, indicating a persistent design oversight that was never properly addressed by the development team.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of input validation and access control mechanisms within the web application. The admin/addpage.php script fails to verify whether the user attempting to add a page possesses the necessary administrative privileges before executing the operation. This authentication gap creates a pathway for malicious actors to inject unauthorized content into the CMS, potentially leading to defacement, data manipulation, or further exploitation of the compromised system. The vulnerability is exacerbated by the fact that it can be exploited through Cross-Site Request Forgery attacks, where attackers can trick authenticated users into performing unintended administrative actions. This CSRF capability significantly broadens the attack surface as it allows exploitation even when users are logged into the system, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous for active websites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple content modification to potentially compromise the entire website infrastructure and user data integrity. Attackers could leverage this flaw to inject malicious code, redirect users to phishing sites, or establish persistent backdoors within the website. The unauthorized addition of pages could also be used to spread malware, manipulate search engine optimization rankings, or conduct social engineering attacks against website visitors. Furthermore, the vulnerability may enable attackers to escalate their privileges within the system, potentially leading to full administrative control over the CMS and underlying server resources. Organizations using this vulnerable version of simple-cms face significant risks including reputational damage, data breaches, and potential compliance violations, especially in regulated environments where content integrity and access control are paramount.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate authentication bypass issue and the CSRF exploitation vector. The primary solution involves implementing proper authentication checks within the admin/addpage.php script to ensure only authorized administrative users can access the page addition functionality. This requires the system to validate user credentials and administrative privileges before processing any page creation requests. Additionally, developers should implement CSRF protection mechanisms including the use of anti-CSRF tokens that are generated for each user session and validated on every administrative request. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285 which addresses insufficient authorization issues, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in security design. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls, regular security audits, and monitoring for unauthorized administrative activities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique, specifically under the T1078 credential access and T1059 execution categories, highlighting the multi-faceted nature of the threat. Regular updates and patches should be applied immediately, and the system should be monitored for signs of exploitation through unusual administrative activities or unauthorized content modifications.