CVE-2018-16331 in DamiCMS
Summary
by MITRE
admin.php?s=/Admin/doedit in DamiCMS v6.0.0 allows CSRF to change the administrator account's password.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/19/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-16331 affects DamiCMS version 6.0.0 and represents a cross-site request forgery flaw that specifically targets the administrative account password modification functionality. This issue exists within the admin.php?s=/Admin/doedit endpoint which processes administrative actions within the content management system. The flaw allows an attacker to craft malicious requests that can modify administrator credentials without proper authorization, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability stems from the absence of proper anti-CSRF token validation mechanisms in the administrative password change process, making it susceptible to exploitation through social engineering or victim interaction with malicious web pages.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic CSRF attack vector where the application fails to validate the origin of requests targeting administrative functions. When an administrator visits a malicious website or clicks on a crafted link, the attacker can trigger a request to the vulnerable endpoint that modifies the administrator password. This occurs because the system does not require or validate anti-CSRF tokens for the doedit action, which is typically used for editing administrative data. The flaw operates under CWE-352 which categorizes cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which covers valid accounts and T1566 which covers credential access through social engineering. The vulnerability specifically affects the authentication and authorization mechanisms of the CMS, undermining the security controls that protect administrative access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft as it provides attackers with persistent administrative access to the entire content management system. Once an attacker successfully changes an administrator password through CSRF, they can manipulate all content, modify user accounts, install malicious software, and potentially use the compromised system as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no prior authentication or privileged access to exploit, making it a critical security flaw that can be leveraged by attackers with minimal technical expertise. The attack surface is broad as any administrator who visits a malicious page or clicks on compromised links can become a victim, potentially affecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of all data managed through the CMS.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-16331 should focus on implementing proper anti-CSRF protection mechanisms within the DamiCMS application. The primary recommendation involves adding and validating anti-CSRF tokens for all administrative actions including password changes, ensuring that requests originate from legitimate administrative interfaces rather than external malicious sites. Organizations should also implement proper input validation and request origin checking for administrative endpoints, and consider implementing additional authentication mechanisms such as two-factor authentication for administrative accounts. The system should enforce strict session management practices and ensure that administrative actions require explicit user confirmation before processing. Security updates and patches should be applied immediately upon availability, as the vulnerability can be exploited through simple web-based attacks. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other administrative interfaces and ensure that all web applications properly implement CSRF protection mechanisms as outlined in OWASP CSRF prevention guidelines and NIST cybersecurity frameworks.