CVE-2018-18372 in Library CMS - Powerful Book Management System
Summary
by MITRE
A Stored XSS vulnerability has been discovered in KAASoft Library CMS - Powerful Book Management System 2.1.1 via the /admin/book/create/ title parameter.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/30/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-18372 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within the KAASoft Library CMS version 2.1.1, specifically affecting the administrative book creation functionality. This issue manifests through the /admin/book/create/ endpoint where the title parameter fails to properly sanitize user input, creating an avenue for persistent malicious script injection. The vulnerability resides in the application's failure to implement adequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms, allowing attackers to inject malicious javascript code that persists in the database and executes whenever the affected page is loaded.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a standard stored XSS attack pattern where an attacker crafts malicious input containing javascript payloads within the book title field during creation. When the system stores this input without proper sanitization and subsequently renders it in the web interface without appropriate encoding, the malicious script executes in the context of other users' browsers who view the affected content. This creates a persistent threat vector where the injected code can perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or modifying page content to facilitate further attacks. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is classified as a common weakness in web application security. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the affected endpoint is part of the administrative interface, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges or gain unauthorized access to sensitive system functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to compromise the entire administrative environment of the library management system. When an attacker successfully injects malicious code into the title field, they can manipulate the administrative interface to redirect legitimate users to phishing sites, steal administrative credentials, or even modify book records to include malicious links. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that the attack persists indefinitely until manually removed by system administrators, creating a long-term security risk. This flaw particularly threatens organizations relying on the CMS for managing sensitive bibliographic data, as the attack could potentially lead to data exfiltration or complete system compromise. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, where the malicious script could be used to harvest credentials or deliver additional malware payloads through the compromised administrative interface.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate input sanitization and output encoding implementation across all user-supplied parameters within the CMS. The system must enforce strict validation of all input fields, particularly those used in administrative functions, with proper escaping of special characters before database storage. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit script execution contexts and employ regular security scanning to identify similar vulnerabilities across the application codebase. The recommended remediation includes patching the application to version 2.1.2 or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes, while also implementing a comprehensive security review of all administrative endpoints to prevent similar issues. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious input patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. Regular security training for administrators and developers is essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities through improved coding practices and security awareness. The fix should align with industry best practices for secure coding standards including OWASP Top Ten recommendations and ensure proper sanitization of all user inputs before storage and rendering within web interfaces.