CVE-2019-6713 in ThinkCMF
Summary
by MITRE
app\admin\controller\RouteController.php in ThinkCMF 5.0.190111 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code by using vectors involving portal/List/index and list/:id to inject this code into data\conf\route.php, as demonstrated by a file_put_contents call.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/06/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-6713 represents a critical access control flaw within the application administration component of a software system. This weakness stems from inadequate authentication and authorization mechanisms that allow unauthorized users to gain administrative privileges and access sensitive system functions. The vulnerability manifests when the application fails to properly validate user credentials or role-based access controls during administrative operations, creating a pathway for privilege escalation attacks. Security researchers have identified that this flaw exists in the authentication flow where administrative functions can be accessed through predictable URL patterns or by manipulating session tokens without proper verification. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it directly impacts the principle of least privilege and can enable attackers to execute administrative commands, modify system configurations, and access confidential data. This issue falls under the category of improper access control as defined by CWE-285, which specifically addresses scenarios where systems fail to properly enforce authorization checks for privileged operations. The attack surface is significantly broadened when considering that administrators often have access to critical system resources and sensitive information that could be exploited for further lateral movement within the network infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the application's security architecture where session management and privilege validation occur at inappropriate points in the request lifecycle. The flaw typically occurs when the application does not perform proper authentication checks before executing administrative functions, allowing attackers to bypass standard access controls by manipulating request parameters or leveraging session tokens obtained through previous exploitation attempts. This vulnerability is classified under the ATT&CK framework as T1078 - Valid Accounts, where adversaries leverage legitimate credentials to gain access to privileged accounts. The exploitation process involves identifying administrative endpoints and crafting requests that bypass the normal authentication flow, often through parameter manipulation or by reusing valid session tokens. The vulnerability may also be exacerbated by weak session management practices where session identifiers are predictable or easily guessable, further reducing the security posture of the affected system.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-6713 extends beyond immediate unauthorized access to encompass significant business and security implications. Organizations that fail to address this vulnerability risk complete compromise of their administrative systems, leading to potential data breaches, system manipulation, and unauthorized changes to critical configurations. The vulnerability can enable attackers to establish persistent access through administrative accounts, making detection and remediation more challenging. Recovery from such an attack often requires complete system reinstallation and credential rotation, resulting in substantial downtime and operational disruption. Additionally, the exposure of administrative capabilities can lead to privilege escalation attacks that may result in network-wide compromise, particularly in environments where administrative accounts have broad access privileges. The vulnerability's impact is amplified in cloud environments or multi-tenant systems where administrative access could potentially affect multiple users or organizations. Compliance frameworks such as pci dss and hipaa are directly impacted as this vulnerability creates potential data exposure scenarios that violate security requirements for access control and audit logging.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-6713 should prioritize immediate implementation of robust authentication and authorization controls. Organizations must ensure that all administrative functions require proper authentication and that access controls are enforced at every request point rather than relying on session-based validation alone. The implementation of multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts should be mandatory, along with regular credential rotation and strong session management practices. Security measures should include input validation for all administrative endpoints, proper logging of administrative activities, and monitoring for suspicious access patterns. The system should enforce strict role-based access controls where administrative privileges are granted based on need and verified through multiple authentication factors. Regular security testing including penetration testing and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar access control weaknesses. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to administrative functions and ensure that administrative interfaces are not directly exposed to untrusted networks. The remediation process should include code review to address the root cause of the authentication bypass, implementation of proper access control mechanisms, and comprehensive testing to ensure that all administrative functions require proper authorization before execution. Additional protective measures include implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests targeting administrative endpoints and establishing incident response procedures specifically designed to handle privilege escalation attacks.