CVE-2018-9993 in YUNUCMS
Summary
by MITRE
YUNUCMS 1.0.7 has XSS via the content title on an admin/content/addcontent/cid/## page (aka a news center page).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/23/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-9993 affects YUNUCMS version 1.0.7, a content management system that allows administrators to manage website content through a web interface. This particular flaw represents a cross-site scripting vulnerability that specifically targets the content title field within the administrative interface, particularly when adding new content items through the admin/content/addcontent/cid/## URL structure. The vulnerability exists in the news center page functionality where administrators can create and manage content, making it a critical concern for any organization relying on this CMS for their content management needs.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the CMS's administrative interface. When administrators input content titles through the add content page, the system fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied data before rendering it back to the browser. This allows malicious actors to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers who visit the affected pages. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the administrative context, meaning that successful exploitation could potentially allow attackers to gain elevated privileges or execute unauthorized actions within the CMS environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with a potential foothold for more sophisticated attacks within the CMS infrastructure. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially steal administrator session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, inject malicious content, or even escalate privileges if the administrative interface lacks proper access controls. The specific URL structure admin/content/addcontent/cid/## suggests that the vulnerability is present in a parameterized endpoint where the cid parameter likely represents content category identifiers, making it possible for attackers to target specific content types or categories within the CMS.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1190, which covers exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications, and could potentially lead to privilege escalation or lateral movement within the compromised environment. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it targets the administrative interface, which typically contains sensitive data and functionality that should be protected from unauthorized access.
Organizations utilizing YUNUCMS 1.0.7 should immediately implement mitigations including input sanitization of all user-supplied data, proper output encoding for all dynamic content, and implementation of Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities. The most effective remediation involves updating to a patched version of the CMS, as the vulnerability likely stems from a known issue in the application's data handling mechanisms. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and regular security scanning of the administrative interface can provide additional layers of protection while waiting for official patches. Security teams should also conduct thorough audits of administrative access controls and implement proper monitoring for suspicious activities in the CMS administrative interface.