CVE-2018-16633 in Pluck
Summary
by MITRE
Pluck v4.7.7 allows XSS via the admin.php?action=editpage&page= page title.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/17/2020
CVE-2018-16633 represents a cross-site scripting vulnerability discovered in Pluck content management system version 4.7.7 that specifically affects the administrative interface. This vulnerability exists within the admin.php script where the page title parameter is processed without adequate input sanitization or output encoding, creating a persistent vector for malicious code injection. The flaw occurs when administrators navigate to the editpage functionality and modify page titles, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers who view the affected pages.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation and sanitization of user-supplied input within the administrative interface. When the page title parameter is submitted through the editpage functionality, the application fails to properly encode or filter special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This weakness directly maps to CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as a result of improper neutralization of input data. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the administrative context, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges or execute unauthorized actions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, deface websites, steal administrative credentials, or redirect users to malicious domains. When an administrator or authenticated user visits a page containing the malicious payload, the injected script executes in their browser context, potentially compromising their session cookies and access privileges. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically targeting the execution of JavaScript code within web browsers. The attack vector requires minimal user interaction, as simply viewing the affected page content triggers the malicious script execution, making it particularly insidious for targeted attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-16633 should prioritize immediate patching of the Pluck CMS to version 4.7.8 or later, which contains the necessary input validation and output encoding fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures that enforce strict validation of all user-supplied data, particularly within administrative interfaces. The solution involves implementing proper HTML entity encoding for all dynamic content displayed in web pages, ensuring that special characters are properly escaped before rendering. Additionally, organizations should deploy web application firewalls to monitor and block suspicious input patterns, while implementing content security policies to prevent unauthorized script execution. Regular security audits of web applications and input validation reviews should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of the system.