CVE-2018-20680 in Frog
Summary
by MITRE
Frog CMS 0.9.5 has XSS in the admin/?/page/edit/1 body field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/23/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-20680 represents a cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Frog CMS version 0.9.5 within the administrative interface. This specific weakness manifests in the body field of the page editing functionality, where the application fails to properly sanitize user input before rendering it in the web interface. The affected component resides within the admin/?/page/edit/1 endpoint, which allows authenticated administrators to edit page content through a web-based interface.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a code injection flaw that occurs when untrusted data is embedded into web pages without proper validation or escaping. In this case, the body field of the page editing interface does not implement adequate input sanitization measures, allowing malicious actors to inject malicious scripts that will execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability specifically affects the administrative section of the CMS, making it particularly dangerous as it could be exploited by attackers who have gained access to administrative credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive administrative functions and user data. When an authenticated administrator visits a page containing malicious script code, the payload will execute within their browser session, potentially enabling session hijacking, privilege escalation, or data exfiltration. This type of vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that can be leveraged to maintain long-term access to the CMS administration interface, particularly since the vulnerability affects the core editing functionality that administrators regularly use.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to first gain access to administrative credentials, as the XSS occurs within the admin interface. However, once authenticated, the attacker can craft malicious content that will execute in the browser of any user who views the affected page. The attack vector involves injecting script code into the body field of a page, which then gets rendered without proper sanitization, creating an environment where the script executes in the context of the victim's browser. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing proper input validation and output encoding in web applications, particularly in administrative interfaces where elevated privileges exist.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-20680 should focus on implementing comprehensive input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms within the CMS. The most effective approach involves ensuring that all user input, particularly in administrative fields such as page bodies, undergoes proper validation and sanitization before being rendered in the web interface. This includes implementing Content Security Policy headers, utilizing proper HTML escaping techniques, and ensuring that the CMS framework properly handles user-supplied content. Organizations should also consider implementing regular security audits and penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in their web applications. The remediation process should include updating to a patched version of Frog CMS or implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls to protect against exploitation attempts. This vulnerability highlights the necessity of following secure coding practices and adhering to industry standards such as those defined by the Open Web Application Security Project and the Center for Internet Security.