CVE-2018-18209 in DiliCMS
Summary
by MITRE
XSS exists in DiliCMS 2.4.0 via the admin/index.php/setting/site?tab=site_attachment attachment_type parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/25/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-18209 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within DiliCMS version 2.4.0 that specifically affects the administrative interface. This issue manifests through the site_attachment parameter in the admin/index.php/setting/site?tab=site_attachment endpoint, creating a potential vector for malicious actors to inject harmful scripts into the web application's administrative environment. The vulnerability resides in the improper handling of user-supplied input within the site attachment configuration settings, where the application fails to adequately sanitize or validate the attachment_type parameter before processing or displaying it within the web interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's lack of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the administrative settings module. When administrators navigate to the site attachment configuration page and interact with the attachment_type parameter, the application directly incorporates user-provided values into the HTML response without sufficient sanitization. This failure to implement proper security controls allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes within the context of the authenticated administrator's browser session. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, representing a critical weakness in the application's data validation and output encoding processes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides attackers with a potential pathway to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to the administrative functions of the DiliCMS platform. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could execute malicious scripts in the administrator's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, data exfiltration, or complete compromise of the content management system. The attack requires minimal privileges since the vulnerability exists within the administrative interface where legitimate administrative users already have elevated access rights. This creates a dangerous scenario where a successful XSS attack could result in unauthorized modifications to site settings, file uploads, or even complete system compromise through the exploitation of the administrative session.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability. The primary remediation involves implementing proper input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied parameters within the administrative interface. This includes sanitizing the attachment_type parameter through proper escaping mechanisms before rendering it in HTML contexts, and implementing Content Security Policy headers to prevent unauthorized script execution. Organizations should also consider implementing Web Application Firewall rules to detect and block suspicious parameter values that could indicate XSS attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213 which focuses on data from information repositories, as the compromised administrative session could provide access to sensitive system information and configuration data. Regular security auditing of web applications, including thorough input validation testing, is essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities from persisting in the software development lifecycle. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege access controls and regular security updates can help reduce the attack surface and mitigate potential exploitation of such flaws in the administrative components of content management systems.