CVE-2018-18201 in qibosoft
Summary
by MITRE
qibosoft V7.0 allows CSRF via admin/index.php?lfj=member&action=addmember to add a user account.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-18201 resides within qibosoft V7.0, a content management system that suffers from a critical cross-site request forgery flaw. This weakness specifically manifests in the administrative interface at the endpoint admin/index.php?lfj=member&action=addmember which permits unauthorized users to manipulate the system through forged requests. The flaw enables attackers to execute arbitrary actions without proper authentication or authorization, representing a significant security risk for organizations relying on this platform.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from the absence of proper anti-CSRF mechanisms within the affected application. When a legitimate administrator performs actions through the member management interface, the system fails to validate the origin of requests or implement tokens that would prevent malicious actors from crafting and submitting forged requests on behalf of authenticated users. This design flaw allows attackers to construct malicious web pages or exploit existing vulnerabilities in email clients or web browsers to trigger unintended administrative actions. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the authentication and authorization controls within the CMS's administrative components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it enables full account creation capabilities within the system's administrative interface. An attacker could leverage this weakness to establish persistent access points through the creation of new administrative accounts, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires minimal user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website or clicking on a compromised link. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and undermines the integrity of the application's user management system, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate user permissions, access sensitive data, or perform other malicious activities through the newly created accounts.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including the deployment of anti-CSRF tokens for all administrative actions, proper request origin validation, and the implementation of Content Security Policy headers to prevent unauthorized script execution. The fix should involve adding unique, unpredictable tokens to all forms and requests that modify system state, ensuring these tokens are validated server-side before processing any administrative operations. Additionally, implementing proper session management controls and regular security audits of web applications can help prevent similar vulnerabilities. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery issues, and represents a significant concern under the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation and persistence tactics, where attackers can establish footholds through unauthorized account creation. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious administrative activities to detect potential exploitation attempts.