CVE-2018-8972 in CMS Project
Summary
by MITRE
Creditwest Bank CMS Project (aka CWCMS) through 2017-07-28 has CSRF in the functionality for updating the site configuration, which allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary PHP code, as demonstrated by a PHP shell that calls eval on request parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-8972 affects the Creditwest Bank CMS Project (CWCMS) version 2017-07-28 and earlier, representing a critical cross-site request forgery flaw that enables remote code execution. This vulnerability specifically targets the site configuration update functionality within the CMS, creating a dangerous attack surface that allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary PHP code into the system. The flaw manifests through a CSRF vector that, when successfully exploited, permits attackers to execute PHP shellcode that leverages the eval function to process request parameters, effectively granting remote code execution capabilities to unauthorized users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and lack of proper CSRF protection mechanisms within the CMS configuration update handlers. When legitimate users perform administrative actions to modify site settings, the application fails to properly verify the authenticity of requests originating from authorized users. This absence of robust CSRF token validation creates a window of opportunity for attackers to craft malicious requests that appear legitimate to the application. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows for the execution of PHP code directly within the web server context, bypassing traditional security controls and potentially enabling full system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code injection, as it fundamentally undermines the security posture of any system running the affected CWCMS version. Attackers can leverage this flaw to establish persistent backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, or escalate privileges within the compromised environment. The use of eval() in the payload construction demonstrates a sophisticated approach to remote code execution that makes detection more challenging and increases the potential for damage. Organizations utilizing this CMS version face significant risk of unauthorized access to financial data and system resources, particularly given the banking context of the Creditwest Bank application. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require authentication for the initial attack vector, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-8972 should focus on implementing comprehensive CSRF protection measures, including the deployment of anti-CSRF tokens for all state-changing operations within the CMS. Organizations should immediately upgrade to the latest version of CWCMS that addresses this vulnerability, as the vendor has likely released patches to correct the authentication and validation flaws. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests, conducting thorough code reviews to identify similar CSRF vulnerabilities in other components, and establishing monitoring protocols to detect unauthorized configuration changes. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery, and represents a critical threat that maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1078 for valid accounts. Security teams should also consider implementing principle of least privilege controls and regular security assessments to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other parts of their infrastructure.