CVE-2018-17429 in JTBC
Summary
by MITRE
/console/account/manage.php?type=action&action=add in JTBC v3.0(C) has CSRF for adding an administrator account.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/29/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-17429 represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the JTBC content management system version 3.0. This weakness specifically affects the administrative account management functionality accessible through the /console/account/manage.php endpoint with parameters type=action and action=add. The flaw allows authenticated attackers to manipulate the system's account creation process without proper authorization, potentially enabling unauthorized individuals to escalate their privileges and gain administrative control over the affected system. The vulnerability stems from the absence of proper anti-CSRF tokens or validation mechanisms within the targeted administrative interface, making it susceptible to exploitation through maliciously crafted web requests that leverage the victim's authenticated session.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-352 category of Cross-Site Request Forgery, which is classified as a significant security weakness in web applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this issue under T1078 Valid Accounts and T1548.001 Account Manipulation, as it enables attackers to create new administrative accounts that can be used for persistent access and further exploitation. The flaw exists in the web application's authentication and authorization mechanisms, specifically within the administrative account management module that lacks proper session validation and request origin verification. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows attackers to bypass normal access controls and create accounts with elevated privileges, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-17429 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables attackers to establish persistent backdoors within the targeted system. An attacker could craft a malicious webpage or email attachment containing a hidden iframe or javascript that automatically submits a request to the vulnerable endpoint when a victim administrator visits the page. This would result in the creation of a new administrator account with predetermined credentials, allowing the attacker to maintain access even after the initial compromise. The vulnerability affects the integrity and availability of the system's user management functionality, potentially enabling attackers to modify existing accounts, delete critical users, or perform other malicious actions within the administrative interface. Additionally, the presence of such a vulnerability undermines the trust model of the web application, as it allows unauthorized account creation without proper verification mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust anti-CSRF protection mechanisms throughout the administrative interfaces of the JTBC system. The primary recommendation involves adding unique, unpredictable tokens to all administrative forms and requests that require account creation or modification operations. These tokens must be validated server-side and regenerated after each use to prevent replay attacks. Security headers such as Content Security Policy should be implemented to restrict the sources from which scripts can be executed, reducing the effectiveness of CSRF attacks. Additionally, the system should enforce proper session management with automatic timeout mechanisms and require re-authentication for sensitive administrative operations. Regular security audits and input validation should be conducted to ensure that all administrative endpoints properly implement CSRF protection measures. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring solutions to detect suspicious account creation activities and potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of implementing comprehensive security controls in administrative interfaces and the necessity of regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in web applications.