CVE-2018-18723 in YUNUCMS
Summary
by MITRE
An XSS issue was discovered in index.php/admin/area/editarea/id/110000 in YUNUCMS 1.1.5.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-18723 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the YUNUCMS content management system version 1.1.5. This issue specifically affects the administrative interface at the path index.php/admin/area/editarea/id/110000, where user input is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to the browser. The flaw allows authenticated attackers with administrative privileges to inject malicious scripts into the application's response, potentially compromising the integrity of the web application and the security of its users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the CMS's administrative module. When administrators navigate to the specified URL endpoint and interact with the area editing functionality, the application fails to adequately escape or filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic HTML content. This creates an environment where malicious JavaScript code can be executed within the context of other users' browsers who access the affected administrative pages. The vulnerability manifests as a classic reflected cross-site scripting issue, where the malicious payload is reflected back to the user through the application's response without proper sanitization.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations using YUNUCMS 1.1.5, particularly in environments where administrative access is compromised. An attacker who gains access to an administrative account could leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the browsers of other administrators or users with access to the affected areas. This could enable session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, or the deployment of additional malicious payloads. The attack requires minimal privileges since it targets an authenticated administrative interface, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrative accounts are not adequately protected. The vulnerability also aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as a critical security weakness in web applications.
The exploitation of CVE-2018-18723 can be mapped to several tactics within the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly focusing on initial access and privilege escalation techniques. Attackers can use this vulnerability to establish a foothold within the administrative environment, potentially leading to full system compromise. The vulnerability also supports persistent threat actor activities by enabling the deployment of web-based backdoors or command and control channels that can persist across user sessions. Security professionals should note that this type of vulnerability often indicates broader input validation weaknesses within the application architecture, suggesting that similar issues may exist in other parts of the CMS.
Organizations utilizing YUNUCMS 1.1.5 should immediately implement mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patch or upgrade to a patched version of the CMS. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms at the application level can prevent similar issues from occurring in the future. Network-based mitigations such as web application firewalls may provide additional protection, though they should not be considered a complete solution. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across the entire application stack. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of implementing proper access controls and monitoring administrative activities, as unauthorized access to administrative interfaces significantly increases the risk of exploitation.