CVE-2018-16732 in CScms
Summary
by MITRE
\upload\plugins\sys\admin\Setting.php in CScms 4.1 allows CSRF via admin.php/setting/ftp_save.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-16732 resides within the CScms 4.1 content management system where a cross-site request forgery flaw exists in the administrative interface. This specific weakness is located in the file upload/plugins/sysadmin/Setting.php which handles administrative settings, particularly FTP configuration parameters. The vulnerability manifests when an attacker can manipulate the admin.php/setting/ftp_save endpoint to execute unauthorized administrative actions without proper authentication or authorization.
This CSRF vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that directly violates the principle of authentication and authorization controls within web applications. The flaw allows malicious actors to perform administrative actions on behalf of authenticated users who are tricked into visiting malicious websites or clicking on compromised links. The vulnerability falls under CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery issues in software applications. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it targets the administrative functions of the CMS, potentially allowing attackers to modify critical system settings including FTP configurations that control file upload and management capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration changes. An attacker who successfully exploits this CSRF flaw could modify FTP settings to redirect file uploads to malicious servers, potentially leading to unauthorized code execution or data exfiltration. The consequences could include complete system compromise, data loss, or the ability to establish persistent backdoors within the web infrastructure. Given that the vulnerability affects the core administrative functionality of the CMS, it represents a significant threat to the overall security posture of systems running CScms 4.1. The attack requires minimal technical expertise to exploit, making it particularly dangerous for widespread deployment in compromised environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate CSRF protection needs and broader security posture improvements. Organizations should implement proper CSRF token validation mechanisms that ensure all administrative actions require valid session tokens and referer validation. The implementation should follow ATT&CK framework tactic T1078 which addresses legitimate credentials and privileges, ensuring that administrative actions cannot be performed without proper authorization. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers, enforcing strict session management controls, and conducting regular security assessments can help prevent exploitation. The most effective immediate solution is to apply the vendor-provided patch or upgrade to a version that addresses this specific CSRF vulnerability in the administrative settings module.