CVE-2018-8078 in YzmCMS
Summary
by MITRE
YzmCMS 3.7 has Stored XSS via the title parameter to advertisement/adver/edit.html.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/13/2020
The vulnerability CVE-2018-8078 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw discovered in YzmCMS version 3.7 within the advertisement management module. This vulnerability specifically affects the adver/edit.html endpoint where the title parameter is processed without adequate input sanitization or output encoding, creating a persistent security risk that can affect all users interacting with the compromised content. The flaw exists in the web application's data handling pipeline where user-supplied input flows directly into the application's response without proper validation mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient parameter validation within the advertisement editing functionality. When administrators or users submit advertisement data through the adver/edit.html interface, the title field accepts raw input that is subsequently stored in the database without proper sanitization. This stored data is then rendered back to users without appropriate HTML escaping or encoding, allowing malicious scripts to execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability classifies under CWE-79 as a Cross-Site Scripting flaw, specifically manifesting as a stored XSS variant where the malicious payload persists in the application's database rather than being reflected in a single request.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or unauthorized access. Attackers can exploit this flaw to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information such as cookies or authentication tokens, and potentially escalate privileges within the CMS environment. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once an attacker successfully injects malicious code, it will affect all users who view the affected advertisement content, creating a persistent threat vector that can remain active for extended periods. This vulnerability particularly impacts web applications following the OWASP Top Ten 2017 category A03: Injection, as it demonstrates inadequate input validation and output encoding practices.
The exploitation of CVE-2018-8078 aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for Data from Information Repositories, where attackers can leverage persistent XSS vulnerabilities to extract sensitive data from user sessions. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where the CMS handles sensitive user data or administrative functions. The attack surface is amplified when considering that many CMS platforms like YzmCMS are used by organizations without dedicated security teams, making such vulnerabilities more attractive to threat actors. Remediation strategies should include immediate input validation, proper output encoding of all user-supplied data, and implementation of Content Security Policy headers to mitigate potential exploitation scenarios.
Organizations utilizing YzmCMS 3.7 should prioritize immediate patching or mitigation of this vulnerability through proper parameter validation and sanitization procedures. The recommended approach includes implementing strict input validation for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in administrative interfaces where stored XSS vulnerabilities can have the most significant impact. Security measures should also include regular security audits of web application code, implementation of automated vulnerability scanning tools, and establishment of secure coding practices that prevent similar issues from occurring in future development cycles. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in preventing cross-site scripting attacks, particularly in content management systems that handle user-generated content.