CVE-2018-18374 in MetInfo
Summary
by MITRE
XSS exists in the MetInfo 6.1.2 admin/index.php page via the anyid parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/02/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-18374 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the MetInfo content management system version 6.1.2. This specific weakness manifests in the administrative interface through the anyid parameter within the admin/index.php page, creating a persistent security risk for organizations utilizing this particular version of the software. The flaw enables malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts into the application's response, potentially compromising user sessions and system integrity. This vulnerability falls under the category of stored cross-site scripting as described by CWE-079, which specifically addresses situations where untrusted data is improperly sanitized before being rendered in web pages. The issue is particularly concerning given that it affects the administrative interface, which typically contains sensitive functionality and user data that requires robust protection mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker manipulates the anyid parameter in the admin/index.php endpoint to inject malicious JavaScript code. When the application processes this parameter without proper input validation or output encoding, the injected script executes within the context of other users' browsers who access the affected page. This creates a vector for session hijacking, credential theft, and potential privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input sanitization practices and highlights the critical importance of implementing proper parameter validation mechanisms. According to ATT&CK framework category T1059.007, this represents a code injection technique that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary commands or scripts in the victim's browser environment, potentially leading to full compromise of the administrative session.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-18374 extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive administrative functions within the MetInfo system. Organizations running this vulnerable version face risks including unauthorized access to system configurations, data manipulation, user account compromise, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure. The administrative interface typically contains privileged operations that, once compromised, can lead to complete system takeover. Security teams must consider that successful exploitation could result in persistent backdoors, data exfiltration, and modification of critical web content. The vulnerability's presence in a widely used CMS platform means that attackers can leverage automated scanning tools to identify and exploit multiple installations simultaneously. Organizations should also consider the potential for this vulnerability to be combined with other exploits to create more sophisticated attack chains, as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's approach to multi-stage attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-18374 should prioritize immediate patching of the MetInfo 6.1.2 installation to the latest available version that addresses this specific vulnerability. Organizations should implement input validation controls at the application level, ensuring that all parameters including anyid are properly sanitized before processing. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to prevent script execution in the browser context. Regular security assessments and input validation testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. Network segmentation and access controls can limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect unusual activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date software inventory and vulnerability management processes to prevent such issues from persisting in production environments.