CVE-2019-17522 in Hotaru
Summary
by MITRE
A stored XSS vulnerability was discovered in Hotaru CMS v1.7.2 via the admin_index.php?page=settings SITE NAME field (aka SITE_NAME), a related issue to CVE-2011-4709.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/08/2024
The stored cross-site scripting vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-17522 affects Hotaru CMS version 1.7.2 and represents a critical security flaw in the administrative interface. This vulnerability specifically targets the admin_index.php?page=settings endpoint where the SITE_NAME field is processed, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that persist in the application's database and execute whenever the affected page is accessed. The flaw demonstrates a classic stored XSS pattern where user input is not properly sanitized or escaped before being rendered back to users, creating a persistent threat vector that can affect multiple users over time. The vulnerability's classification as a stored XSS aligns with CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as a vulnerability where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper validation or escaping, enabling attackers to execute scripts in the victim's browser context.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the SITE_NAME parameter within the administrative settings interface. When an attacker submits malicious JavaScript code through this field, the code is stored in the database and subsequently executed whenever the settings page is loaded by any user with administrative privileges. This persistent nature makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple administrators over time without requiring repeated exploitation attempts. The attack vector operates entirely within the application's administrative context, meaning that successful exploitation requires only administrative access to the vulnerable parameter, making it easier to achieve compared to other XSS scenarios that might require social engineering or more complex attack chains. The vulnerability's relationship to CVE-2011-4709 indicates a pattern of similar flaws in the same software ecosystem, suggesting potential architectural issues in how input validation and output encoding are implemented throughout the CMS.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-17522 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and unauthorized administrative actions. Attackers could potentially use the vulnerability to escalate privileges, modify content, or exfiltrate sensitive data from the CMS environment. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once exploited, the malicious scripts will continue to execute for all users who access the affected settings page, creating a persistent backdoor or attack vector that can be leveraged for extended periods. This vulnerability particularly threatens the integrity and confidentiality of the administrative interface, which typically contains sensitive configuration data and user management capabilities. The attack surface is further expanded because the vulnerability affects the core administrative functionality of the CMS, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to the entire content management system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-17522 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the Hotaru CMS application. The most effective immediate solution involves sanitizing all user input before storing it in the database, particularly for fields that are rendered back to users in administrative interfaces. This approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 which covers command and script injection, as the vulnerability represents a form of script injection that occurs through persistent data storage. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation that removes or encodes potentially dangerous characters and patterns, while also ensuring that all output rendered to administrative pages properly escapes HTML and JavaScript content. The recommended approach includes applying the vendor's official security patch or upgrade to a patched version of Hotaru CMS, as this addresses the root cause of the vulnerability. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls with XSS detection capabilities and conducting regular security audits of administrative interfaces can help prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual administrative activities and input patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while also ensuring that proper access controls and privilege separation are maintained to limit the potential impact of any successful exploitation.