CVE-2019-10106 in CMS Made Simple
Summary
by MITRE
CMS Made Simple 2.2.10 has XSS via the 'moduleinterface.php' Name field, which is reachable via an "Add Category" action to the "Site Admin Settings - News module" section.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-10106 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the CMS Made Simple content management platform version 2.2.10. This security weakness specifically manifests through the moduleinterface.php component where user-supplied input in the Name field is not properly sanitized or validated before being rendered back to users. The vulnerability is accessible through the Site Admin Settings section of the News module, specifically when performing an "Add Category" action that processes the Name field input.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an authenticated administrator or user with sufficient privileges navigates to the Site Admin Settings - News module section and attempts to add a new category. During this process, the Name field parameter accepts malicious input that contains script code, which then gets stored in the application's database or processing system. When other users subsequently view the category list or related interface elements, the malicious script code executes within their browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites.
This vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications. The flaw represents a classic case of inadequate input validation and output encoding where user-provided data flows directly into the application's response without proper sanitization. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires only standard administrative privileges to exploit, making it accessible to users who already have elevated access rights within the CMS environment. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks such as those targeting the ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and control communications or T1566 for credential harvesting.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations relying on CMS Made Simple 2.2.10, as it provides a potential attack surface that could be exploited by malicious actors with access to administrative accounts. The vulnerability affects the integrity of the content management system's administrative interface and could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information or complete system compromise if combined with other vulnerabilities. Organizations may experience data exfiltration, service disruption, or unauthorized modifications to website content, particularly when administrators are logged in and interact with the vulnerable module interface. The exploitation requires minimal effort from attackers who can craft malicious payloads using standard web application attack techniques.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patch for CMS Made Simple 2.2.10, which addresses the input validation issues in the moduleinterface.php component. Additionally, implementing proper output encoding and input sanitization measures can provide defense-in-depth protection against similar vulnerabilities. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious script payloads, as well as conducting regular security assessments of the CMS platform to identify other potential vulnerabilities. Administrative users should be educated about the risks of clicking on suspicious links or interacting with untrusted content within the CMS interface, and privilege escalation should be carefully monitored to prevent unauthorized access to administrative functions. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing robust input validation controls throughout all web application components.