CVE-2018-16447 in Frog
Summary
by MITRE
Frog CMS 0.9.5 has admin/?/user/edit/1 CSRF.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/06/2023
CVE-2018-16447 represents a cross-site request forgery vulnerability affecting Frog CMS version 0.9.5, specifically within the administrative user management interface. This vulnerability exists in the URL path admin/?/user/edit/1 which allows unauthorized attackers to manipulate user accounts without proper authentication. The flaw stems from the absence of proper anti-CSRF tokens or validation mechanisms in the administrative editing functionality, making it susceptible to exploitation through malicious web pages or email attachments that trigger unauthorized actions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic CSRF attack vector where an attacker crafts a malicious request that targets the administrative user editing endpoint. When an authenticated administrator visits a compromised website or clicks on a malicious link, the browser automatically submits a request to modify user permissions or credentials without requiring additional authentication. This flaw falls under CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities in software applications. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the administrative context, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges or compromise entire user accounts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple account manipulation to potentially enable full administrative compromise of the CMS instance. An attacker who successfully exploits this CSRF flaw could modify user permissions, create new administrative accounts, or reset passwords for existing users. This represents a significant risk to organizations relying on Frog CMS for content management, as it could lead to complete system compromise. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires minimal user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website, making it an effective method for widespread exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-16447 should focus on implementing robust anti-CSRF protection mechanisms throughout the administrative interface. Organizations should ensure that all administrative actions require proper authentication tokens that are validated on each request, preventing unauthorized operations from succeeding. The recommended approach involves implementing the same-origin policy enforcement and requiring unique, unpredictable tokens for each user session. Additionally, organizations should upgrade to patched versions of Frog CMS or implement web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious administrative requests. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers legitimate credentials usage, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to maintain persistent access through compromised administrative accounts. Regular security audits and input validation checks should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other parts of the application.