CVE-2018-18199 in Redaxo
Summary
by MITRE
Mediamanager in REDAXO before 5.6.4 has XSS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/23/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-18199 affects the mediamanager component within REDAXO content management systems prior to version 5.6.4. This represents a cross-site scripting flaw that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The mediamanager functionality serves as a critical component for handling media assets within the CMS, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations relying on REDAXO for their web content management needs.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the mediamanager module. When users upload or manipulate media files through the interface, the system fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages. This allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that exploit the lack of proper sanitization mechanisms, particularly when processing file names, metadata, or other user-controllable parameters. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the system processes and displays media-related information without adequate protection against script injection attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, deface websites, steal sensitive information, or redirect users to malicious domains. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially escalate privileges within the CMS, access administrative functions, or compromise the entire website. The mediamanager component typically handles sensitive media assets and configuration data, making it an attractive target for threat actors seeking to gain unauthorized access to the system. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding.
Organizations using REDAXO versions prior to 5.6.4 face significant risk exposure from this vulnerability, as it requires minimal exploitation effort and can lead to complete system compromise. The attack vector typically involves uploading malicious files with specially crafted names or metadata that trigger the XSS condition when the mediamanager processes and displays these elements. Security teams should consider this vulnerability in the context of ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which covers scripting through web shells and command execution via web interfaces. The remediation approach requires immediate patching to version 5.6.4 or later, which implements proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious script injection.
Mitigation strategies beyond patching include implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns, conducting comprehensive security audits of uploaded media files, and establishing strict file validation policies. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities within the mediamanager interface. Regular security monitoring and user access controls should be enhanced to minimize potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date CMS installations and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against common web application vulnerabilities.