CVE-2018-19349 in SeaCMS
Summary
by MITRE
In SeaCMS v6.64, there is SQL injection via the admin_makehtml.php topic parameter because of mishandling in include/mkhtml.func.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/14/2020
The vulnerability CVE-2018-19349 represents a critical SQL injection flaw discovered in SeaCMS version 6.64 that specifically targets the admin_makehtml.php component. This vulnerability arises from improper input validation and sanitization within the include/mkhtml.func.php file, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database. The issue manifests when the topic parameter in admin_makehtml.php is processed without adequate security measures, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL payloads that can manipulate or extract sensitive data from the database.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL query constructions. According to CWE-89, this represents a classic SQL injection vulnerability where the application fails to properly escape or parameterize user input, enabling attackers to manipulate database queries through crafted input strings. The flaw exists within the mkhtml.func.php file which handles HTML generation functions, suggesting that the vulnerability may extend beyond simple data extraction to potentially enable full database compromise and unauthorized administrative access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with the capability to perform unauthorized database operations including data retrieval, modification, and deletion. An attacker could potentially extract administrative credentials, user information, or sensitive content management system configurations. The vulnerability's location within the admin interface makes it particularly dangerous as it could enable privilege escalation and full system compromise. The attack vector is straightforward requiring only a malicious HTTP request with specially crafted parameters, making this vulnerability highly exploitable in automated attack scenarios.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability including immediate patching of the affected SeaCMS version to the latest secure release. Input validation and sanitization mechanisms must be strengthened throughout the application, particularly in areas handling user-supplied parameters. The implementation of prepared statements and parameterized queries should be enforced to prevent similar issues in future development cycles. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit administrative interface access to trusted networks only. According to ATT&CK framework technique T1190, this vulnerability could be leveraged as an initial access point, making proper network monitoring and intrusion detection systems crucial for early detection of exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify similar input handling flaws in other components of their content management systems and web applications.