CVE-2019-25070 in WolfCMS
Summary
by MITRE • 06/09/2022
** UNSUPPORTED WHEN ASSIGNED ** A vulnerability was found in WolfCMS up to 0.8.3.1. It has been rated as problematic. This issue affects some unknown processing of the file /wolfcms/?/admin/user/add of the component User Add. The manipulation of the argument name leads to basic cross site scripting. The attack may be initiated remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The identifier VDB-135125 was assigned to this vulnerability. NOTE: This vulnerability only affects products that are no longer supported by the maintainer.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/05/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-25070 represents a classic cross site scripting flaw within the WolfCMS content management system version 0.8.3.1 and earlier. This issue resides in the user management component, specifically within the administrative interface at the /wolfcms/?/admin/user/add endpoint. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data, particularly the name argument field. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into the application's response, which are then executed in the context of other users' browsers when they access the affected page. This represents a fundamental breakdown in the application's security architecture, as it fails to properly escape or filter user input before rendering it within the web page.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a clear failure in the application's data handling processes, aligning with CWE-79 which categorizes cross site scripting as a critical security weakness. The attack vector is remote, meaning an attacker can exploit this vulnerability without requiring physical access to the system or local network privileges. The exploitation occurs through the manipulation of the name parameter, which suggests that the application fails to properly validate or sanitize input before incorporating it into dynamic HTML content. This allows malicious actors to inject script code that executes in the victim's browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or other malicious activities. The vulnerability's classification as problematic indicates that it poses a significant security risk, though the disclosure of exploitation methods in VDB-135125 suggests that this weakness has been actively weaponized by threat actors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity of the administrative interface and user data management capabilities. When an attacker successfully injects malicious scripts through the user addition form, they can potentially manipulate user accounts, access sensitive administrative functions, or redirect users to malicious websites. The fact that this vulnerability affects the user management component is particularly concerning, as it provides attackers with potential pathways to escalate privileges or compromise the entire CMS infrastructure. The remote exploitation capability means that the attack surface is extensive, as any user with access to the administrative interface could be targeted, and the vulnerability could be leveraged to compromise multiple user sessions simultaneously.
Given that WolfCMS is no longer supported by its maintainers, the recommended mitigation strategy focuses on immediate remediation through application architecture changes rather than vendor patches. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and sanitization at all entry points, particularly within administrative interfaces where user-supplied data is processed. The implementation of proper output encoding, such as HTML entity encoding for dynamic content, would effectively neutralize the XSS attack vector. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing a Content Security Policy to prevent unauthorized script execution and establish strict input validation rules that reject potentially malicious payloads. The vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of maintaining supported software versions, as unsupported applications become increasingly vulnerable to exploitation as time passes and security research advances. Security teams should also implement regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses in legacy systems, while considering migration to supported CMS platforms that receive regular security updates and maintain active support channels.