CVE-2018-15568 in tp5cms
Summary
by MITRE
tp5cms through 2017-05-25 has CSRF via admin.php/category/delete.html.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/16/2020
The vulnerability CVE-2018-15568 represents a cross-site request forgery flaw discovered in tp5cms version 2017-05-25 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically affects the administrative interface of the content management system, where the delete category functionality lacks proper anti-CSRF protection mechanisms. The affected endpoint admin.php/category/delete.html serves as the primary attack vector for this vulnerability, allowing malicious actors to execute unauthorized administrative actions without proper user consent or authentication.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the absence of anti-CSRF tokens or other validation mechanisms within the administrative delete category function. When an authenticated administrator visits a malicious website or clicks on a crafted link, the attacker can trigger the deletion of categories through forged requests that appear legitimate to the web application. This flaw operates under the principle that the web application does not validate the origin or authenticity of requests originating from the administrative interface, making it susceptible to exploitation by attackers who can manipulate the request flow.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations using tp5cms, as it allows attackers to perform unauthorized administrative actions that can compromise the integrity and availability of the content management system. Successful exploitation could result in the deletion of critical categories, disruption of content organization, potential data loss, and unauthorized modification of website structure. The vulnerability particularly affects websites where administrative privileges are not adequately protected against CSRF attacks, creating opportunities for attackers to cause substantial damage to website content and functionality.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in software applications. The flaw demonstrates a failure to implement proper request validation mechanisms that would prevent unauthorized actions from being executed through forged requests. Organizations should consider implementing mitigations aligned with the ATT&CK framework's TA0001 initial access and TA0003 persistence techniques, as CSRF attacks can serve as entry points for further exploitation. The recommended remediation involves implementing anti-CSRF tokens for all administrative functions, validating request origins, and ensuring that all administrative actions require proper authentication and authorization checks to prevent unauthorized execution of administrative tasks.
The vulnerability highlights the importance of implementing comprehensive security controls for administrative interfaces, particularly in content management systems where privileged actions can cause significant damage. Organizations should conduct regular security assessments to identify similar CSRF vulnerabilities across their web applications and ensure that all administrative functions properly validate user intent and request authenticity to prevent exploitation by malicious actors.