CVE-2018-18210 in DiliCMS
Summary
by MITRE
XSS exists in DiliCMS 2.4.0 via the admin/index.php/setting/site?tab=site_attachment attachment_url parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/25/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-18210 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within DiliCMS version 2.4.0 that specifically affects the administrative interface. This issue manifests in the site settings module where the attachment_url parameter fails to properly sanitize user input, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject harmful scripts into the application's web interface. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it targets the administrative section of the content management system, potentially allowing attackers to escalate their privileges and gain unauthorized access to sensitive system configurations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the DiliCMS codebase. When administrators navigate to the site attachment settings page, the application processes the attachment_url parameter without sufficient sanitization measures, allowing malicious payloads to be executed within the context of the admin session. This weakness aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities resulting from improper input validation. The flaw operates by accepting user-supplied data through the URL parameter and directly incorporating it into the page output without appropriate HTML escaping or context-aware encoding mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it provides attackers with potential access to administrative functions and sensitive system information. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of an authenticated administrator session, potentially leading to complete system compromise. This risk is exacerbated by the fact that the vulnerability exists within the administrative interface where users have elevated privileges and can modify critical system settings, upload malicious files, or access confidential data. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal user interaction beyond navigating to a specific administrative page, making it susceptible to targeted attacks against administrators.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability effectively. The primary recommendation involves applying the vendor-provided patch or upgrade to a patched version of DiliCMS that properly sanitizes the attachment_url parameter. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding practices throughout the application can prevent similar issues from occurring in the future. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional detection and prevention capabilities, though they should not be relied upon as the sole defense mechanism. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to the principle of least privilege in administrative interfaces, as outlined in various security frameworks including those referenced in the ATT&CK framework under the web application exploitation techniques. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in their web applications and ensure proper input validation mechanisms are in place across all user-supplied data entry points.