CVE-2018-17024 in Monstra
Summary
by MITRE
admin/index.php in Monstra CMS 3.0.4 allows XSS via the page_meta_title parameter in an add_page action.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/16/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-17024 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within Monstra CMS version 3.0.4 that specifically affects the administrative interface. This issue resides in the admin/index.php file and manifests when processing the page_meta_title parameter during an add_page action. The flaw demonstrates a classic input validation weakness where user-supplied data enters the application without proper sanitization or encoding, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into the CMS administration environment. The vulnerability operates within the context of a web application framework where administrative users interact with content management functionality, making it particularly dangerous as it targets privileged interface elements.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient output escaping mechanisms within the CMS's administrative processing pipeline. When administrators navigate to the add_page functionality and provide input through the page_meta_title parameter, the system fails to properly encode or sanitize the data before rendering it back to the browser. This allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that execute within the context of the administrator's browser session, potentially enabling full administrative control over the CMS instance. The vulnerability specifically leverages the fact that the application does not implement proper context-aware encoding for HTML attributes, which is a fundamental security principle in preventing XSS attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges and compromise the entire CMS infrastructure. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can inject malicious JavaScript that persists in the administrative interface, potentially allowing for session hijacking, data exfiltration, or modification of critical website content. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires minimal privileges to execute and can be triggered through normal administrative workflows, making it difficult to detect and prevent through standard security monitoring. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications and represents a common weakness in content management systems where user input is not properly validated.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-17024 should focus on immediate patching of the affected Monstra CMS version, as the vendor has likely released security updates addressing this specific vulnerability. Organizations should implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms that ensure all user-supplied data is properly escaped before being rendered in HTML contexts. The fix should incorporate context-aware encoding techniques that differentiate between HTML content, attribute values, and JavaScript contexts to prevent improper rendering of malicious input. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious parameter values, though this represents a secondary defense measure. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their CMS installations to identify similar vulnerabilities in other administrative interfaces or functionality, as this type of input validation failure is common across many web applications and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter. Regular security training for administrators and implementation of principle of least privilege access controls can further reduce the risk exposure associated with such vulnerabilities.