CVE-2018-18934 in PopojiCMS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in PopojiCMS v2.0.1. admin_component.php is exploitable via the po-admin/route.php?mod=component&act=addnew URI by using the fupload parameter to upload a ZIP file containing arbitrary PHP code (that is extracted and can be executed). This can also be exploited via CSRF.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/04/2023
This vulnerability exists in PopojiCMS version 2.0.1 where the admin_component.php script fails to properly validate file uploads, creating a critical security flaw that allows remote code execution. The vulnerability specifically affects the URI path po-admin/route.php?mod=component&act=addnew which processes file uploads through the fupload parameter, enabling attackers to upload malicious ZIP archives containing arbitrary PHP code that gets extracted and executed on the target server. The flaw represents a classic insecure file upload vulnerability that violates multiple security principles and can be exploited through both direct exploitation and cross-site request forgery techniques.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the file upload mechanism. When users attempt to add new components through the administrative interface, the system accepts ZIP files without proper verification of their contents or file types. This allows an attacker to craft a malicious ZIP archive containing PHP shellcode or backdoor scripts that are automatically extracted and executed by the server's file extraction process. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-434 which describes insecure file upload vulnerabilities where applications accept files without proper validation, and the weakness is further classified under CWE-20 which encompasses improper input validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for any organization using PopojiCMS v2.0.1. Successful exploitation provides attackers with full remote code execution capabilities on the affected server, potentially allowing them to escalate privileges, access sensitive data, install malware, or establish persistent backdoors. The vulnerability can be leveraged for privilege escalation attacks and may enable lateral movement within networks if the web server has access to internal systems. Additionally, the CSRF component of this vulnerability means that attackers can exploit it without requiring user interaction, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered automatically through malicious web pages or emails.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, file type restrictions, and proper access controls for administrative functions. The most effective defense involves implementing strict file validation that checks file extensions, MIME types, and content signatures before accepting any uploads. Organizations should also apply the principle of least privilege by restricting upload directories and ensuring that uploaded files are not directly executable. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for remote code execution and T1566 for credential access through web application attacks. The recommended remediation includes updating to the latest version of PopojiCMS, implementing proper file upload validation, and applying web application firewalls to monitor and block suspicious file upload activities. Organizations should also conduct thorough security audits of their web applications to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components that might allow similar attack vectors.