CVE-2018-17103 in GetSimple
Summary
by MITRE
** DISPUTED ** An issue was discovered in GetSimple CMS v3.3.13. There is a CSRF vulnerability that can change the administrator's password via admin/settings.php. NOTE: The vendor reported that the PoC was sending a value for the nonce parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/05/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-17103 represents a cross-site request forgery issue within GetSimple CMS version 3.3.13 that could potentially allow unauthorized administrative password changes. This vulnerability resides in the administrative settings page at admin/settings.php, making it a critical concern for any system utilizing this content management platform. The disputed nature of this CVE indicates that vendor confirmation regarding the actual exploitability or severity may be contested, though the underlying flaw in the authentication flow remains significant. The issue demonstrates a fundamental weakness in the application's protection mechanisms against malicious requests that could be executed without proper user consent or authorization.
The technical flaw stems from the absence of proper anti-CSRF protection mechanisms within the administrative settings interface. When administrators access the settings page to modify their password, the application fails to validate that the request originates from an authenticated user within the legitimate session context. This omission creates a scenario where an attacker could craft a malicious request that, when triggered by an authenticated administrator, would execute the password change without proper verification. The vulnerability specifically targets the nonce parameter validation, which serves as a critical anti-CSRF token that should prevent unauthorized actions. The vendor's note that the proof of concept was sending a value for the nonce parameter suggests that the exploit may have been attempting to bypass the token validation mechanism, though this could also indicate that the token implementation itself was flawed or insufficient.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple password compromise, as it represents a potential gateway for complete administrative control over the CMS system. An attacker who successfully exploits this CSRF vulnerability could gain unrestricted access to all administrative functions, including but not limited to content management, user privilege modifications, plugin installations, and system configuration changes. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in software applications. The attack vector typically involves tricking an authenticated user into visiting a malicious website or clicking on a crafted link that automatically submits a request to the vulnerable CMS administration interface. This scenario creates a significant risk for organizations relying on GetSimple CMS, as the compromise of a single administrative account can lead to complete system takeover.
Mitigation strategies for this CSRF vulnerability should focus on implementing robust anti-CSRF protection mechanisms throughout the application's administrative interfaces. The most effective approach involves ensuring that all state-changing operations within the administrative panel require proper validation of anti-CSRF tokens that are unique per session and cannot be predicted or reused. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security measures such as requiring multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts, implementing proper session management controls, and establishing regular security audits of web applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, highlighting the importance of securing all user-facing interfaces. Additionally, the vulnerability demonstrates the necessity of proper input validation and the implementation of the principle of least privilege in web application security. Regular updates and patch management procedures should be implemented to ensure that such vulnerabilities are addressed promptly when they are identified, and that the application's security posture remains robust against evolving threats.