CVE-2019-8910 in WTCMS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in WTCMS 1.0. It allows index.php?g=admin&m=setting&a=site_post CSRF.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-8910 resides within WTCMS version 1.0, specifically targeting the administrative functionality of the content management system. This issue represents a cross-site request forgery vulnerability that exploits the lack of proper authentication mechanisms in the site settings update endpoint. The affected parameter structure index.php?g=admin&m=setting&a=site_post indicates that an attacker can manipulate the administrative interface through crafted requests without proper user consent or authentication verification. This flaw exists in the web application's security model where the system fails to validate the origin of requests intended to modify critical system settings. The vulnerability stems from the absence of anti-CSRF tokens or similar protective measures that would normally prevent unauthorized modifications to administrative functions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an authenticated administrator visits a malicious website or clicks on a crafted link that triggers an automatic request to the vulnerable WTCMS installation. The malicious request would contain parameters that modify site configuration settings such as database connection details, administrator credentials, or other critical system parameters. Without proper validation of the request source or implementation of CSRF protection mechanisms, the administrative system processes the request as legitimate, effectively allowing an attacker to modify system settings without proper authorization. This type of vulnerability directly violates security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten 2017, specifically addressing the failure to prevent cross-site request forgery attacks. The flaw operates at the application layer and can be classified under CWE-352, which defines Cross-Site Request Forgery as a security weakness where the application fails to verify the authenticity of requests originating from authorized users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data modification, as it can lead to complete system compromise when combined with other attack vectors. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially gain persistent access to the administrative interface, modify user permissions, install backdoors, or alter critical system configurations that affect the entire web application infrastructure. The damage potential increases significantly when considering that the vulnerability affects the core system settings functionality, which often includes database configuration parameters that could allow further escalation attacks. This vulnerability can be leveraged as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, potentially enabling privilege escalation or lateral movement within the network. The attack vector aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1078 adversary tactic, which involves legitimate credentials and privileges to gain access to systems. Organizations using WTCMS 1.0 are particularly vulnerable because the administrative interface lacks basic security controls that should be present in any modern web application.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust anti-CSRF protection mechanisms within the WTCMS application. The most effective solution involves incorporating unique, unpredictable tokens for each user session that must be validated before processing any administrative requests. These tokens should be generated server-side, stored in the user session, and included in all forms and requests requiring administrative privileges. Additionally, implementing proper referer header validation and origin checking can provide additional layers of protection against unauthorized requests. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to prevent unauthorized script execution and additional authentication controls such as multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts. Regular security updates and patches should be applied immediately upon release, and the application should be configured with proper access controls limiting administrative privileges to authorized personnel only. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing security by design principles and adhering to established security frameworks like ISO/IEC 27001 for information security management. System administrators should conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications and components within their infrastructure.