CVE-2019-14518 in Evolution
Summary
by MITRE
** DISPUTED ** Evolution CMS 2.0.x allows XSS via a description and new category location in a template. NOTE: the vendor states that the behavior is consistent with the "access policy in the administration panel."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/05/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-14518 affects Evolution CMS version 2.0.x and represents a cross-site scripting vulnerability that arises from improper input validation within the content management system's template handling mechanisms. This issue specifically manifests when users interact with the description field and new category location parameters during template creation or modification processes, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject persistent script code into the application's user interface. The vulnerability exists within the administrative panel's input sanitization routines, where user-supplied data fails to undergo adequate validation before being rendered back to users within the template context.
The technical flaw stems from the application's failure to properly escape or filter user-provided content when processing template metadata fields, particularly those related to description parameters and category location specifications. This weakness allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that execute within the context of other users' browsers when they view affected templates or categories. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a cross-site scripting issue, specifically demonstrating inadequate input validation that permits the execution of arbitrary script code in the victim's browser. The attack vector involves the manipulation of template description fields and category location parameters to inject malicious javascript or other script payloads that persist in the system's database and execute when legitimate users access the affected administrative interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it enables attackers to manipulate the administrative interface itself, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive system configurations or even escalating privileges within the CMS environment. When the vendor acknowledges that the behavior aligns with the "access policy in the administration panel," this statement suggests that the vulnerability may be related to insufficient access control validation or that the application's security model does not properly isolate user inputs from administrative contexts. The implications are significant for content management workflows where multiple administrators interact with templates and categories, as a single compromised input field could allow attackers to affect all users within the administrative domain. This vulnerability particularly impacts organizations that rely heavily on template customization and category management features within their Evolution CMS deployments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-14518 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the CMS's template handling components. Organizations should ensure that all user-supplied content undergoes strict sanitization before being stored in the database, with particular attention to fields used in template descriptions and category location parameters. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against script execution, while regular security audits of template processing code should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities. System administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious input patterns, and all users should be educated about the risks of processing untrusted template data. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining proper input/output validation boundaries within CMS applications, particularly those that allow extensive user customization of template structures and administrative metadata fields. Organizations using Evolution CMS should prioritize upgrading to patched versions or implementing compensating controls to prevent exploitation of this cross-site scripting vulnerability that could compromise the integrity of their administrative interfaces and potentially lead to full system compromise.