CVE-2018-5215 in Fork
Summary
by MITRE
Fork CMS 5.0.7 has XSS in /private/en/pages/edit via the title parameter.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2019
The vulnerability CVE-2018-5215 represents a cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Fork CMS version 5.0.7 within the administrative interface. This issue specifically affects the page editing functionality where the title parameter is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to users. The vulnerability exists in the private administrative section of the CMS, making it accessible only to authenticated users with appropriate privileges. The flaw allows malicious actors who have gained access to an administrative account to inject malicious scripts that can execute in the context of other users' browsers.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a critical security weakness in web applications. The specific implementation flaw occurs when user-supplied input from the title parameter is directly incorporated into HTML output without proper encoding or validation. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it leverages the administrative interface where users have elevated privileges, potentially allowing for more severe consequences than typical user-facing XSS vulnerabilities. The vulnerability exists in the /private/en/pages/edit endpoint, indicating it affects the English language administrative interface of the CMS.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation. An attacker with administrative access could craft malicious payloads that would execute in the browser of other administrators or content creators, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows for persistent XSS attacks where malicious scripts can be stored in the database and executed whenever the affected page is viewed. This type of vulnerability can be exploited to steal cookies, modify content, redirect users to malicious sites, or even install malware through browser-based attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-5215 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user inputs, particularly those that are rendered back to users in the HTML context. This includes implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, using proper HTML encoding functions before rendering user-supplied content, and ensuring that all parameters are validated against expected formats. Organizations should also implement regular security updates and patch management procedures to address such vulnerabilities promptly. The remediation process should include thorough input validation of the title parameter, implementation of proper output encoding, and consideration of the principle of least privilege to limit the impact of potential exploitation. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual administrative activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input sanitization in web applications and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter execution through browser-based attacks.