CVE-2019-13340 in miniCMS
Summary
by MITRE
In MiniCMS V1.10, stored XSS was found in mc-admin/post-edit.php via the content box. An attacker can use it to get a user's cookie. This is different from CVE-2018-10296, CVE-2018-16233, CVE-2018-20520, and CVE-2019-13186.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/18/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-13340 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within MiniCMS version 1.10, specifically affecting the mc-admin/post-edit.php component. This security weakness resides in the content box parameter handling mechanism, where user input is not properly sanitized or validated before being stored in the application's database. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject persistent malicious scripts that execute whenever affected pages are loaded, creating a persistent threat vector that can affect all users who view the compromised content.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a classic stored XSS attack pattern where an attacker crafts malicious payload within the content box field during post editing. When the compromised content is saved and subsequently rendered to other users, the malicious script executes in their browser context, potentially stealing session cookies, performing unauthorized actions, or redirecting users to malicious sites. This particular implementation allows attackers to obtain user cookies, which can be leveraged for session hijacking and unauthorized access to user accounts, fundamentally compromising the authentication and authorization mechanisms of the CMS.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple cookie theft, as it provides attackers with persistent access to user sessions within the CMS environment. This enables attackers to perform administrative actions, modify content, create new posts, or potentially escalate privileges within the application. The vulnerability's persistence stems from the stored nature of the XSS flaw, meaning that once exploited, the malicious payload remains active until manually removed from the database. This characteristic makes it particularly dangerous for content management systems where multiple users regularly interact with the platform, as the attack surface expands with each compromised session.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a direct violation of CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001, representing a credential access method through the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied content, proper sanitization of HTML content before storage, and regular security auditing of web applications. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers and using secure session management practices can significantly reduce the impact of such vulnerabilities. The distinction from previously identified CVEs demonstrates the ongoing evolution of web application threats and the importance of continuous vulnerability assessment and patch management processes to maintain robust security postures.