CVE-2018-16804 in UCMS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in UCMS 1.4.6. There is XSS in the title bar, as demonstrated by a do=list request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/29/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-16804 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within UCMS version 1.4.6, specifically manifesting in the title bar component of the application. This issue arises from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it within the web interface. The vulnerability is exploitable through a do=list request parameter, indicating that the application's handling of list-related operations contains a critical security gap that allows malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into the title bar element.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. This classification indicates that the application fails to properly validate or encode user input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. The flaw occurs when the application processes the do=list request and subsequently displays the title bar content without adequate sanitization measures. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that, when executed, can steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious websites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to compromise the entire user session and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive data or system resources. The title bar component represents a high-privilege area within the application interface where users frequently interact, making it an attractive target for exploitation. When an attacker successfully injects malicious JavaScript code into the title bar, they can manipulate the user's browser environment, potentially leading to account takeover, data exfiltration, or the execution of arbitrary commands within the context of the victim's session. This vulnerability particularly affects the application's integrity and confidentiality, as it undermines the trust relationship between users and the application.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-16804 should prioritize immediate input validation and output encoding implementations that follow the principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and the Web Application Security Consortium guidelines. Organizations should implement comprehensive sanitization routines that strip or encode potentially dangerous characters from all user-supplied input before processing or displaying it within the application interface. The fix should involve updating the UCMS application to version 1.4.7 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Additionally, security teams should conduct thorough code reviews focusing on all input handling mechanisms and implement Content Security Policy headers to provide additional protection against script injection attacks. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application's codebase, ensuring that the security posture remains robust against evolving threat landscapes.