CVE-2020-13633 in Fork
Summary
by MITRE
Fork before 5.8.3 allows XSS via navigation_title or title.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/28/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-13633 affects the Fork CMS content management system version prior to 5.8.3, presenting a cross-site scripting vulnerability that arises from insufficient input validation in the navigation_title and title parameters. This flaw enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into the application's navigation elements, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it within the web interface, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input containing script tags or other XSS payloads within the navigation_title or title fields of Fork CMS content management elements. When these parameters are rendered in the application's user interface without proper sanitization, the injected scripts execute in the browsers of unsuspecting users who view the affected pages. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to sanitize user input that gets reflected back to users in web applications. The vulnerability represents a classic server-side XSS flaw where the application processes user input that should be treated as untrusted data without appropriate validation or encoding mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-13633 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, and unauthorized access to administrative functions within the Fork CMS environment. An attacker could potentially escalate privileges by exploiting this vulnerability to inject scripts that capture user credentials or manipulate administrative interfaces. The vulnerability affects both authenticated and unauthenticated users, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring specific user privileges. Organizations using Fork CMS versions prior to 5.8.3 face significant risk of data breaches and unauthorized system access, as the vulnerability allows for persistent XSS attacks that can remain undetected for extended periods.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-13633 primarily involve upgrading to Fork CMS version 5.8.3 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and validation mechanisms for navigation_title and title parameters. Additionally, organizations should implement proper output encoding for all user-supplied content rendered in web interfaces, following the principle of least privilege in input validation. Security measures should include implementing content security policies that restrict script execution and employing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security principles and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 - Exploitation for Credential Access, which addresses how attackers can leverage XSS vulnerabilities to obtain user credentials. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments and implement automated scanning tools to identify similar vulnerabilities in their web applications.