CVE-2018-16631 in Subrion CMS
Summary
by MITRE
Subrion CMS v4.2.1 allows XSS via the panel/configuration/general/ SITE TITLE parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2020
The vulnerability CVE-2018-16631 represents a cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Subrion CMS version 4.2.1 that specifically affects the administrative panel's configuration interface. This issue manifests when users interact with the SITE TITLE parameter within the panel/configuration/general/ section of the content management system. The flaw enables malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into the web application's response, potentially compromising the security of authenticated administrators who access the affected configuration page. The vulnerability resides in the insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it within the web interface.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically representing a stored XSS attack vector within the administrative interface. The flaw operates by allowing an attacker to submit malicious JavaScript payloads through the SITE TITLE field, which are then stored in the application's database and subsequently executed whenever the administrative panel is accessed. The attack requires minimal privileges since it targets the configuration management interface, which is typically accessible to users with administrative permissions. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects the core configuration parameters that administrators routinely modify, making exploitation more likely during normal administrative activities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive administrative functions and user data. When an administrator visits the configuration page with the malicious payload, the injected JavaScript code executes in their browser context, potentially allowing for session hijacking, credential theft, or further privilege escalation within the CMS environment. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it targets the administrative panel where critical system parameters are managed, potentially enabling attackers to modify core application settings, access sensitive configuration data, or even install malicious plugins that persist across system restarts. This vulnerability can be exploited to establish persistent backdoors within the CMS infrastructure, making it a significant threat to organizational security.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-16631 should focus on immediate patching of the Subrion CMS to version 4.2.2 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the XSS vulnerability. Organizations should implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms that sanitize all user-supplied data before processing or rendering it within the web application. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script execution, while regular security audits of administrative interfaces should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities. Network segmentation and privileged access controls can limit the potential damage from successful exploitation, and multi-factor authentication should be enabled for administrative accounts to add additional layers of protection. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically targeting web application interfaces where administrative privileges are required to execute malicious code within the target environment.