CVE-2018-9856 in Kotti
Summary
by MITRE
Kotti before 1.3.2 and 2.x before 2.0.0b2 has CSRF in the local roles implementation, as demonstrated by triggering a permission change via a /admin-document/@@share request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/27/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-9856 affects the Kotti content management system, specifically versions prior to 1.3.2 and 2.x versions before 2.0.0b2. This represents a critical security flaw that undermines the application's ability to prevent cross-site request forgery attacks. The vulnerability manifests within the local roles implementation, which governs user permissions and access controls within the system's administrative interface. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it allows malicious actors to manipulate user permissions through a seemingly benign administrative endpoint.
The technical flaw resides in the lack of proper anti-CSRF token validation within the local roles management functionality. When administrators interact with the /admin-document/@@share endpoint, the system fails to verify that requests originate from legitimate administrative sessions. This absence of token validation creates a window of opportunity for attackers to craft malicious requests that appear to come from authenticated administrators. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the authorization mechanisms that control who can access and modify content within the system's administrative framework.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables unauthorized privilege escalation attacks. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can modify user permissions and access rights without proper authentication. This could allow them to grant themselves administrative privileges, restrict legitimate administrators from accessing critical content, or manipulate the permission structure to maintain persistent access to the system. The implications extend beyond simple privilege manipulation as this flaw can compromise the entire content management infrastructure and potentially lead to data breaches or complete system compromise.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a variant of CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery weaknesses in web applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique under the T1068 category, where attackers leverage application flaws to gain elevated system access. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the patched versions of Kotti, implementing proper CSRF token validation across all administrative endpoints, and conducting thorough security assessments of similar applications. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of validating all administrative requests and maintaining robust session management controls to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive system functions.