CVE-2018-19318 in SRCMS
Summary
by MITRE
SRCMS 3.0.0 allows CSRF via admin.php?m=Admin&c=manager&a=update to change the username and password of the super administrator account.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/13/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-19318 affects SRCMS version 3.0.0, a content management system that exposes a critical cross-site request forgery flaw in its administrative interface. This vulnerability resides within the admin.php endpoint with parameters m=Admin&c=manager&a=update, which processes administrative account modification requests. The flaw enables unauthorized attackers to manipulate the super administrator account credentials through crafted malicious requests that exploit the lack of proper anti-CSRF protection mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of anti-cross-site request forgery tokens or validation mechanisms within the targeted administrative function. When an authenticated administrator visits a malicious website or clicks on a compromised link, the attacker can construct a request that automatically submits changes to the super administrator account without requiring legitimate authentication. This represents a classic CSRF attack vector where the victim's browser automatically includes session cookies and authentication tokens, allowing the malicious request to appear as if it originated from the legitimate administrator.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it grants attackers complete administrative control over the affected system. Once compromised, the super administrator account provides unrestricted access to all system functionalities including user management, content modification, database access, and configuration changes. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the entire system since attackers can modify or delete critical data, create backdoor accounts, or completely disable system functionality. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and undermines the security model of the content management system.
Security professionals should address this vulnerability through immediate implementation of anti-CSRF token mechanisms within the affected administrative functions. The solution involves generating unique, unpredictable tokens for each administrative session and validating these tokens on every administrative request. This approach aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities, and follows the remediation strategies outlined in the OWASP CSRF Prevention Cheat Sheet. Organizations should also implement proper input validation, session management controls, and consider implementing additional security layers such as multi-factor authentication and role-based access controls to mitigate the risk of unauthorized administrative access. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing proper authentication and authorization controls in web applications, particularly within administrative interfaces where elevated privileges are granted.