CVE-2018-20012 in PHPCMF
Summary
by MITRE
PHPCMF 4.1.3 has XSS via the first input field to the index.php?s=member&c=register&m=index URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/19/2020
The vulnerability CVE-2018-20012 represents a cross-site scripting flaw discovered in PHPCMF version 4.1.3, specifically affecting the member registration functionality. This issue manifests when user input is not properly sanitized before being processed and rendered back to the browser, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject client-side scripts into the application's response. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it targets the registration page at index.php?s=member&c=register&m=index, which serves as a critical entry point for user account creation within the application's membership system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the first input field of the registration form, where attackers can craft malicious payloads that bypass input validation mechanisms. When the application processes this input without adequate sanitization or output encoding, the injected scripts execute in the context of other users' browsers who view the affected content. This creates a persistent XSS vector that can be leveraged for session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability maps to CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which involves the use of malicious inputs to compromise web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to escalate their privileges within the application's ecosystem. Once an attacker successfully injects malicious code through the registration form, they can potentially access other users' sessions, modify account information, or even gain administrative privileges if the application architecture allows for such escalation. The vulnerability affects the entire user registration workflow and can be exploited by both authenticated and unauthenticated attackers, making it particularly dangerous in environments where user registration is open to the public. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that the vulnerability exists in a core application component that handles user data, potentially allowing for data exfiltration or the deployment of additional malicious payloads.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-20012 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding practices throughout the application's codebase, particularly in the registration module. The most effective immediate solution involves sanitizing all user inputs through proper encoding before rendering them in the browser context, implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, and applying proper input validation to prevent malicious payloads from being accepted. Organizations should also consider upgrading to a patched version of PHPCMF if available, as the vulnerability represents a known flaw that has likely been addressed in subsequent releases. Regular security assessments and input validation testing should be implemented to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, with particular attention to areas where user-generated content is processed and displayed. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that all input fields within the registration process are properly protected against XSS attacks while maintaining the application's intended functionality.