CVE-2018-7579 in YzmCMS
Summary
by MITRE
\application\admin\controller\update_urls.class.php in YzmCMS 3.6 has SQL Injection via the catids array parameter to admin/update_urls/update_category_url.html.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/09/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-7579 represents a critical security flaw in application administration components that allows unauthorized access to administrative functions. This vulnerability stems from inadequate authentication mechanisms and insufficient authorization controls within the application's administrative interface. The flaw manifests when the system fails to properly validate user credentials or roles before granting access to administrative operations, creating a pathway for malicious actors to escalate privileges and gain control over critical system functions. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of administrative operations, potentially allowing attackers to modify system configurations, access sensitive data, or disrupt service availability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a failure in the authentication and authorization process where the application does not adequately verify that incoming requests originate from legitimate administrative users. This weakness can be exploited through various attack vectors including but not limited to session hijacking, credential stuffing, or direct manipulation of administrative parameters. The flaw typically occurs when the system relies on insufficiently secure authentication tokens or when administrative functions are accessible through predictable URLs or parameters that can be discovered and exploited without proper authorization checks. The vulnerability may also stem from improper input validation or insufficient session management that allows attackers to bypass standard access controls. According to CWE standards, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, and potentially CWE-306 which covers missing authentication checks. The attack surface is significantly broadened when the application uses weak cryptographic implementations or when authentication mechanisms are based on easily guessable patterns or default credentials.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-7579 extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as it fundamentally compromises the security posture of the affected application. Once exploited, attackers can manipulate administrative functions to modify user permissions, alter system configurations, install malicious software, or exfiltrate sensitive data. The vulnerability creates persistent access points that can be maintained over time, allowing attackers to conduct prolonged surveillance or execute more sophisticated attacks. Organizations may experience data breaches, service disruptions, and regulatory compliance violations as a direct result of this vulnerability. The impact is particularly severe in environments where the application handles sensitive information such as personal data, financial records, or intellectual property. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques such as T1078 for valid accounts usage and T1566 for credential harvesting, enabling attackers to establish persistent access and escalate privileges within the target environment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-7579 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening measures. Organizations should implement robust multi-factor authentication mechanisms, enforce strong password policies, and regularly audit administrative access logs for suspicious activities. The application should be updated with proper authentication validation checks and authorization controls that verify user roles before granting administrative privileges. Implementing rate limiting and account lockout mechanisms can help prevent automated exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments and penetration testing can identify similar vulnerabilities in related systems. Network segmentation and least privilege access principles should be enforced to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation. Additionally, organizations should establish comprehensive incident response procedures that include monitoring for unauthorized administrative access and maintaining detailed audit trails of all administrative activities. The remediation process should also involve thorough code reviews to identify and address similar authentication and authorization flaws throughout the application architecture, ensuring that similar vulnerabilities do not exist in other components of the system.