CVE-2018-18744 in SEMCMS
Summary
by MITRE
An XSS issue was discovered in SEMCMS 3.4 via the fifth text box to the admin/SEMCMS_Main.php URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-18744 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within SEMCMS version 3.4, specifically manifesting in the administrative interface at the admin/SEMCMS_Main.php URI. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as a common web application security flaw where malicious scripts are injected into otherwise trusted websites. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects the administrative panel of the content management system, potentially allowing attackers to execute malicious code within the context of an administrator's browser session.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs through the fifth text input field within the administrative interface, suggesting that the application fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied input before rendering it back to the browser. When administrators interact with this specific input field, any malicious payload entered by an attacker can be executed without proper validation mechanisms. This represents a classic reflected XSS vulnerability where the malicious script is reflected off the web server and executed in the victim's browser. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it targets the admin panel, which typically has elevated privileges and access to sensitive system functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it provides attackers with the capability to escalate privileges and potentially gain full administrative control over the SEMCMS instance. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could manipulate the content management system, modify website data, steal administrative credentials, or even install backdoors. The attack requires minimal user interaction since the vulnerability exists in the administrative interface, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that do not maintain strict access controls or monitoring of their admin panels. This flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which describes the use of script-based attacks targeting web applications.
Organizations utilizing SEMCMS 3.4 should immediately implement mitigations including input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied data, particularly in administrative interfaces. The recommended approach involves implementing proper sanitization of all input fields to prevent the execution of malicious scripts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the sources from which scripts can be executed, and establish regular security audits of their web applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of validating all input data and escaping output in web applications, aligning with security best practices outlined in OWASP Top Ten and other industry standards. Patch management procedures should be prioritized to ensure timely deployment of security updates from the software vendor, as this vulnerability represents a known flaw that has likely been addressed in newer versions of the CMS.