CVE-2018-15566 in tp5cms
Summary
by MITRE
tp5cms through 2017-05-25 has XSS via the admin.php/article/index.html q parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/16/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-15566 affects tp5cms versions up to and including the 2017-05-25 release, representing a cross-site scripting flaw that compromises web application security. This issue specifically manifests within the administrative interface of the content management system where the q parameter in the URL path admin.php/article/index.html becomes a vector for malicious script injection. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the application's parameter handling system, allowing attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the context of authenticated administrator sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in web applications that fail to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamic web pages. The flaw occurs because the application does not adequately escape or encode special characters in the q parameter, enabling attackers to inject script tags, event handlers, or other malicious code that gets executed when the page renders. This particular attack vector targets the administrative panel, which means successful exploitation could provide attackers with elevated privileges and complete control over the CMS functionality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited by attackers to perform various malicious activities. An attacker who successfully injects malicious code through the q parameter could potentially steal administrative session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, modify content, delete database entries, or establish backdoor access to the compromised system. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal user interaction beyond navigating to a specially crafted URL, and the administrative context provides extensive privileges that could be leveraged for further compromise of the entire web infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-15566 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected tp5cms versions to the latest secure releases that contain proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization routines that escape or filter special characters in all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in administrative interfaces. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed within the application context. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, while also ensuring that all web application framework versions remain up to date with the latest security patches. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security principles, particularly the emphasis on preventing injection flaws that can lead to unauthorized access and privilege escalation attacks.