CVE-2018-18724 in YUNUCMS
Summary
by MITRE
An XSS issue was discovered in index.php/admin/category/editcategory?id=73 in YUNUCMS 1.1.5.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-18724 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the YUNUCMS content management system version 1.1.5. This issue specifically affects the administrative interface where users can edit categories through the URL path index.php/admin/category/editcategory?id=73. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into the web application's user interface, potentially compromising the security of authenticated administrators who interact with the affected page.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the category editing functionality. When administrators navigate to the edit category page, the application fails to properly escape or filter user-supplied data that may be rendered back to the browser. This creates an environment where malicious actors can craft specially formatted input containing javascript code or other malicious payloads that execute in the context of the administrator's browser session. The vulnerability is classified as a reflected cross-site scripting issue since the malicious payload is typically delivered through the URL parameter and executed when the page renders.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to the administrative interface. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially steal session cookies, modify content, delete categories, or even inject backdoors into the system. The risk is particularly elevated in environments where administrators have elevated privileges and may be less cautious about clicking links or visiting malicious websites. This vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as a critical weakness in web applications, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1213.002 which involves data from web applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all user input before rendering it in web pages, particularly in administrative interfaces where sensitive operations occur. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. Additionally, the YUNUCMS 1.1.5 version should be updated to a patched release that addresses this vulnerability. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be conducted to identify similar issues in other parts of the application. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of principle of least privilege in administrative interfaces, ensuring that only necessary permissions are granted to users who access sensitive functionality.