CVE-2018-16728 in feindura
Summary
by MITRE
feindura 2.0.7 allows XSS via the tags field of a new page created at index.php?category=0&page=new.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/16/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2018-16728 represents a cross-site scripting flaw in feindura version 2.0.7 that specifically affects the page creation functionality. This issue resides within the tags field processing mechanism when users attempt to create new pages through the administrative interface at index.php?category=0&page=new. The flaw demonstrates a classic input validation weakness where user-supplied data containing malicious script code is not properly sanitized or escaped before being rendered back to the browser. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws identified by the CWE organization. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it targets the administrative interface of the content management system, potentially allowing attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of authenticated users.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits malicious JavaScript code through the tags field during page creation. When the system stores this data without proper sanitization and subsequently displays it in the browser, the injected scripts execute in the context of other users who view the affected page. This creates a persistent XSS attack vector that can be leveraged for session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability specifically targets the user input handling process rather than server-side code execution, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by both authenticated and unauthenticated users depending on the system configuration. The flaw demonstrates poor output escaping practices and inadequate input filtering mechanisms that are fundamental requirements for secure web application development.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-16728 extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges within the feindura system. When an attacker successfully injects malicious scripts, they can potentially access sensitive administrative functions, modify content, or exfiltrate data from the compromised system. This vulnerability can be particularly damaging in environments where feindura is used for content management of sensitive information or where the administrative interface is accessible to multiple users. The attack can be executed through the standard web browser interface without requiring any specialized tools beyond basic web browsing capabilities, making it highly accessible to threat actors. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for data from information repositories, as it enables unauthorized access to stored content and user data through the compromised interface.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output sanitization measures throughout the application. The most effective immediate fix involves implementing strict content filtering that removes or encodes potentially dangerous characters from user inputs before storage and rendering. Developers should implement proper HTML escaping mechanisms when displaying user-supplied content, particularly in fields that are intended for tags or metadata. The system should enforce a whitelist approach for allowed characters and prevent the execution of JavaScript code within user inputs. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and authentication mechanisms can limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar input validation issues across the application. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of keeping software components updated, as newer versions of feindura likely contain fixes for such security issues. Organizations should implement security monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures to address successful attacks.