CVE-2018-6890 in Wolf CMS
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Wolf CMS 0.8.3.1 via the page editing feature, as demonstrated by /?/admin/page/edit/3.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/07/2020
The CVE-2018-6890 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Wolf CMS version 0.8.3.1 that specifically targets the administrative page editing functionality. This vulnerability manifests when users interact with the URL pattern ?/admin/page/edit/3 which allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into page content that will execute in the context of other users' browsers. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the content management system's administrative interface, creating an avenue for persistent XSS attacks that can compromise user sessions and execute unauthorized actions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability leverages the web application's failure to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before rendering it within the HTML context of the page editing interface. When administrators or other users access the affected page editing feature, the malicious script code becomes embedded in the page content and executes in the browser context of any user who views that content. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in software applications. The attack vector operates through the standard HTTP request/response cycle where user input is directly incorporated into dynamic web content without proper sanitization mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-6890 extends beyond simple script execution as it enables attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, manipulate content, and potentially escalate privileges within the CMS environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain unauthorized access to administrative functions, modify or delete content, and establish persistent backdoors within the compromised system. The vulnerability affects the entire administrative workflow of Wolf CMS, making it particularly dangerous for organizations relying on this content management platform for their web presence. This issue directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1190 which describes the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-6890 require immediate implementation of input validation and output encoding measures throughout the application's codebase. Organizations should ensure that all user-supplied content undergoes proper sanitization before being rendered in web pages, with special attention to the administrative editing interfaces. The recommended approach includes implementing context-aware output encoding, employing Content Security Policy headers, and upgrading to the latest stable version of Wolf CMS where this vulnerability has been patched. Additionally, administrators should implement network-based protections such as web application firewalls and conduct regular security audits to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the web application stack. The remediation process must also include comprehensive user education regarding the dangers of clicking on untrusted links or visiting compromised websites that may contain malicious payloads designed to exploit such vulnerabilities.