CVE-2018-17986 in razorCMS
Summary
by MITRE
rars/user/data in razorCMS 3.4.8 allows CSRF for changing the password of an admin user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/23/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-17986 resides within razorCMS version 3.4.8, specifically within the rars/user/data component which handles user administrative functions. This represents a cross-site request forgery flaw that enables unauthorized actors to manipulate administrator account credentials without proper authorization. The vulnerability occurs because the application fails to implement adequate anti-CSRF protection mechanisms when processing password change requests for administrative users. The flaw is particularly concerning as it directly targets the most privileged user account within the system, potentially allowing attackers to gain complete control over the content management system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of proper CSRF token validation within the password change functionality. When an administrator performs a password modification action through the rars/user/data endpoint, the system should require a unique, time-bound token that correlates with the user's current session state. Without this validation, malicious actors can craft specially designed web pages or exploit existing user sessions to submit password change requests on behalf of administrators. This type of flaw is categorized under CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities where applications fail to validate the origin of requests.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it fundamentally compromises the integrity of the entire content management system. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability gains the ability to completely control the administrative account, potentially leading to full system compromise, data exfiltration, or complete service disruption. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it can be executed through social engineering techniques where administrators are tricked into visiting malicious websites while authenticated to the legitimate system. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which covers valid accounts and T1548.001 for abuse of cloud resources, as the compromised administrative credentials can be used to manipulate system configurations and access sensitive data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-17986 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary fix involves implementing robust CSRF token validation mechanisms throughout the application's administrative interfaces, ensuring that each password change request includes a unique, session-bound token that is verified before processing. Organizations should also implement proper input validation and authentication checks to prevent unauthorized access attempts. Additionally, security headers such as Content Security Policy should be configured to limit cross-origin requests and prevent exploitation through malicious web pages. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, as this flaw demonstrates a pattern of insufficient security controls in administrative functions. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of keeping content management systems updated with the latest security patches and following secure coding practices that include comprehensive validation of all user inputs and requests.