CVE-2018-19469 in ArticleCMS
Summary
by MITRE
ArticleCMS through 2017-02-19 has XSS via the /update_personal_infomation realname or email parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/14/2020
CVE-2018-19469 represents a cross-site scripting vulnerability discovered in ArticleCMS version 2017-02-19 and earlier, specifically affecting the /update_personal_infomation endpoint. This vulnerability resides in the handling of user-supplied input parameters, particularly the realname and email fields, which are processed without adequate sanitization or output encoding mechanisms. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into the application's response, potentially compromising user sessions and enabling unauthorized actions within the context of affected users' browsers. This vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting as a critical web application security weakness that permits attackers to execute scripts in the victim's browser context. The attack vector is straightforward as it requires only a simple HTTP request to the vulnerable endpoint with malicious payload in either the realname or email parameter. The operational impact extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to perform actions such as session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for script injection techniques and T1566 for social engineering via malicious links. The vulnerability's exploitation is particularly concerning because it targets personal information update functionality, which users frequently interact with, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to harvest credentials or manipulate user data. The root cause stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the application's user management module, where user-provided data flows directly into HTML responses without proper sanitization. Organizations utilizing ArticleCMS should prioritize immediate patching to address this vulnerability and implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms. Additionally, deploying web application firewalls and implementing proper content security policies can provide additional layers of protection. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices, particularly in user-facing input handling, and highlights the need for regular security assessments and code reviews to identify similar weaknesses in web applications. This issue serves as a reminder that even seemingly benign functionality like user profile updates can become attack vectors when proper security controls are not implemented. The vulnerability's classification as a persistent threat means that if left unpatched, it provides attackers with a stable method of maintaining access to affected systems and users, making prompt remediation essential for maintaining application security posture.