CVE-2018-19145 in S-Cms
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in S-CMS v1.5. There is an XSS vulnerability in search.php via the keyword parameter.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-19145 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within S-CMS version 1.5 that specifically affects the search.php script. This issue arises from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly handle user-supplied data. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it exists in a content management system that likely serves as a web interface for content administrators and end users, making it a prime target for exploitation. The affected parameter, keyword, suggests that any search functionality within the CMS is susceptible to malicious input injection that could be leveraged to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of a victim's browser.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which classifies cross-site scripting as a critical weakness in web applications. The flaw operates by allowing an attacker to inject malicious JavaScript code through the keyword parameter in the search.php endpoint. When this malicious input is processed and subsequently rendered in the web page without proper sanitization, the injected script executes in the victim's browser with the privileges of the authenticated user. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in CMS environments where administrators may have elevated privileges and access to sensitive system functions. The attack vector follows standard XSS exploitation patterns where an attacker crafts malicious input that, when processed by the vulnerable application, gets executed in the browser of unsuspecting users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable a range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and privilege escalation. An attacker could potentially create persistent XSS payloads that remain active within the CMS interface, allowing for prolonged access to compromised systems. The vulnerability affects the integrity of the web application and can lead to data breaches, unauthorized access to sensitive content, and potential compromise of the entire CMS infrastructure. Given that this is a search functionality, the attack surface is broad as search parameters are frequently accessed and could be exploited through various attack vectors including social engineering campaigns that trick users into clicking malicious search links.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-19145 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective immediate solution involves sanitizing all user inputs, particularly those used in dynamic content generation, and applying proper HTML encoding to prevent script execution in output contexts. Implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against XSS attacks by restricting script execution. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of keeping CMS platforms updated, as version 1.5 of S-CMS is likely outdated and may contain additional security flaws. Organizations should implement proper web application firewall rules to detect and block malicious search parameters, and establish secure coding practices that prevent XSS vulnerabilities through the application development lifecycle. This type of vulnerability is often categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, and T1566 for credential access through social engineering, emphasizing the multi-faceted nature of the threat landscape.