CVE-2018-16374 in Frog
Summary
by MITRE
Frog CMS 0.9.5 has stored XSS via /admin/?/plugin/comment/settings.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/06/2023
CVE-2018-16374 represents a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability discovered in Frog CMS version 0.9.5 that specifically affects the administrative plugin comment settings interface. This vulnerability resides within the /admin/?/plugin/comment/settings endpoint, where user input is improperly sanitized before being stored and subsequently rendered in the web application's output. The flaw allows authenticated attackers with administrative privileges to inject malicious javascript code into the comment settings configuration, which then executes whenever the affected page is accessed by other users or administrators. This stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payload persists in the application's database and can affect multiple users over time, making it particularly dangerous for content management systems where administrators frequently modify plugin configurations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the Frog CMS administration interface. When administrators navigate to the comment plugin settings page and submit configuration data, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied parameters before storing them in the database. Subsequently, when the stored data is retrieved and displayed within the administrative interface, the malicious javascript code executes in the context of other users' browsers. This vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 which covers data from information repositories. The attack vector requires an authenticated administrative account, making it less accessible to casual attackers but still highly dangerous within compromised environments where attackers have gained administrative privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-16374 extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. An attacker could inject javascript that captures user credentials when administrators access the comment settings page, or redirect users to malicious domains for phishing attacks. The vulnerability also potentially allows for privilege escalation within the CMS environment, as administrators may unknowingly execute malicious code that could modify other plugin configurations or access sensitive system information. Additionally, the stored nature of the vulnerability means that even after the initial attack, the malicious payload continues to affect users until the administrator discovers and removes the injected code from the database.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-16374 should focus on immediate patching of the Frog CMS application to version 0.9.6 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes for this vulnerability. Organizations should implement strict input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application, particularly in administrative interfaces where user-supplied data is processed. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring that only necessary users have administrative access, and that administrative sessions are protected with strong authentication mechanisms including multi-factor authentication. Regular security audits of web applications should include testing for stored XSS vulnerabilities, and implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against malicious script execution. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual activities in administrative interfaces, and regular database backups should be maintained to facilitate quick recovery in case of successful exploitation. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can also provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts.