CVE-2018-16634 in Pluck
Summary
by MITRE
Pluck v4.7.7 allows CSRF via admin.php?action=settings.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/17/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-16634 affects Pluck content management system version 4.7.7 and represents a cross-site request forgery flaw that enables unauthorized administrative actions. This vulnerability exists within the admin.php script where the settings action parameter does not properly validate or authenticate requests, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute unauthorized operations on behalf of authenticated administrators. The flaw stems from insufficient anti-CSRF mechanisms that should have been implemented to verify the legitimacy of requests originating from the administrative interface.
This vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the authentication and authorization controls within the Pluck CMS administrative framework. The technical implementation fails to incorporate proper CSRF tokens or referer validation checks when processing administrative settings modifications, allowing attackers to craft malicious requests that appear to originate from legitimate administrative sessions. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery issues in software applications. The flaw manifests when an authenticated administrator visits a malicious website or clicks on a crafted link that triggers unauthorized administrative actions without proper user consent or verification.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows attackers to gain unauthorized control over administrative functions within the Pluck CMS environment. An attacker could potentially modify system settings, alter user permissions, change administrative passwords, or disable security features without the knowledge of the legitimate administrator. This represents a critical privilege escalation vulnerability that undermines the integrity of the administrative interface and could lead to complete system compromise. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers legitimate credentials and the abuse of administrative privileges, as it allows unauthorized access to administrative functions through the manipulation of authenticated sessions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper CSRF protection mechanisms within the Pluck CMS application. The recommended approach involves incorporating unique, unpredictable tokens for each administrative session that must be validated before processing any administrative requests. Additionally, implementing referer header validation and SameSite cookie attributes can provide additional layers of protection. Organizations should also ensure that the Pluck CMS is updated to a version that addresses this specific vulnerability, as the developers have likely released patches or updates to resolve the CSRF implementation flaw. Network segmentation and monitoring for unusual administrative activities can serve as supplementary defensive measures to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing proper session management and request validation controls in web applications to prevent unauthorized administrative access through CSRF attacks.