CVE-2018-18738 in SEMCMS
Summary
by MITRE
An XSS issue was discovered in SEMCMS 3.4 via the admin/SEMCMS_Categories.php?pid=1&lgid=1 category_key parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-18738 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within SEMCMS version 3.4 that specifically affects the administrative interface. This issue manifests in the admin/SEMCMS_Categories.php script where the category_key parameter fails to properly sanitize user input, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary script code into the web application's response. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it targets the administrative section of the content management system, potentially allowing attackers to compromise administrator sessions and gain elevated privileges within the application environment.
The technical nature of this flaw aligns with CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as weaknesses that occur when an application includes untrusted data in a new web page without proper validation or escaping, or without a security context. The specific parameter pid=1&lgid=1 in the URL path combined with the category_key parameter creates an attack surface where malicious input can be executed in the context of the victim's browser. The vulnerability exists because the application does not implement proper input validation or output encoding mechanisms to prevent script injection attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive administrative functions within SEMCMS. When an administrator visits a maliciously crafted URL containing the XSS payload, the injected script can execute within the administrator's browser session, potentially stealing session cookies, modifying content, or redirecting to malicious sites. This type of vulnerability can lead to complete system compromise if the attacker can escalate privileges or maintain persistent access through the administrative interface. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal user interaction beyond visiting a compromised page, making it susceptible to phishing campaigns or compromised web pages.
Security practitioners should implement multiple layers of defense to address this vulnerability including immediate patching of SEMCMS to version 3.5 or later where the XSS flaw has been resolved. Input validation should be strengthened at the application level to ensure all parameters passed to administrative scripts undergo proper sanitization before being processed or displayed. Output encoding mechanisms must be implemented to prevent script execution in contexts where user input is rendered to web pages. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and implementing the principle of least privilege in administrative interfaces. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns, and conduct regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of their web applications. This issue exemplifies how seemingly minor input validation flaws can create significant security risks in content management systems, particularly when they affect administrative functionality. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1213 - Data from Information Repositories, as it enables unauthorized access to administrative data and functions through client-side exploitation techniques.