CVE-2018-21037 in Subrion
Summary
by MITRE
Subrion CMS 4.1.5 (and possibly earlier versions) allow CSRF to change the administrator password via the panel/members/edit/1 URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-21037 affects Subrion CMS version 4.1.5 and potentially earlier releases, presenting a critical cross-site request forgery flaw that enables unauthorized password modification of administrator accounts. This vulnerability resides within the administrative panel's member management functionality, specifically at the panel/members/edit/1 URI endpoint which is designed to handle user account modifications. The flaw stems from the absence of proper anti-CSRF token validation mechanisms within the password change request processing flow, allowing malicious actors to craft crafted requests that can modify administrative credentials without proper authorization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the fundamental principle of CSRF attacks where an attacker can trick a logged-in administrator into executing unintended actions through maliciously crafted web requests. The vulnerability occurs because the edit endpoint for member accounts does not validate the presence of a valid anti-CSRF token before processing password change requests. When an administrator visits a malicious website or clicks on a compromised link while authenticated to the Subrion CMS administration panel, the attacker can leverage the existing session to submit a forged request that modifies the administrator password. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a critical failure in the application's authentication and authorization mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it fundamentally compromises the security posture of any Subrion CMS installation that has been affected by this flaw. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain complete administrative control over the content management system, enabling them to modify website content, add malicious users, access sensitive data, and potentially use the compromised system as a launching point for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system, as it allows unauthorized access to critical administrative functions. According to the CWE database, this vulnerability maps to CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for Valid Accounts and T1566.001 for Phishing, as the exploitation typically requires social engineering to trick administrators into visiting malicious sites.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve implementing proper anti-CSRF token validation mechanisms within the administrative endpoints, particularly those that handle sensitive operations such as password changes. Organizations should ensure that all administrative functions require the presence of valid anti-CSRF tokens that are generated per session and validated on each request. The implementation should follow industry standards such as those outlined in OWASP CSRF Prevention Cheat Sheet and should include proper token generation, storage, and validation processes. Additionally, implementing additional security measures such as requiring multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts, implementing proper session management, and conducting regular security audits of web applications can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious activities that may indicate CSRF attack attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of validating all user inputs and implementing proper security controls for administrative functions in web applications, as highlighted in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO/IEC 27001 standards for information security management.