CVE-2020-15182 in SOY CMS
Summary
by MITRE
The SOY Inquiry component of SOY CMS is affected by Cross-site Request Forgery (CSRF) and Remote Code Execution (RCE). The vulnerability affects versions 2.0.0.3 and earlier of SOY Inquiry. This allows remote attackers to force the administrator to edit files once the administrator loads a specially crafted webpage. An administrator must be logged in for exploitation to be possible. This issue is fixed in SOY Inquiry version 2.0.0.4 and included in SOY CMS 3.0.2.328.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/18/2020
The CVE-2020-15182 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in the SOY Inquiry component of SOY CMS, demonstrating a dangerous combination of cross-site request forgery and remote code execution capabilities. This vulnerability specifically targets versions 2.0.0.3 and earlier of the SOY Inquiry module, creating a severe attack surface that can be exploited by remote adversaries. The flaw operates through a sophisticated attack vector that leverages the administrator's authenticated session to perform unauthorized actions without their knowledge or consent. The vulnerability's classification as both CSRF and RCE makes it particularly dangerous as it can escalate from simple session manipulation to full system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and insufficient session management within the SOY Inquiry component. Attackers can craft malicious web pages that, when loaded by an administrator, automatically submit requests to the vulnerable SOY Inquiry module. This mechanism exploits the trust relationship between the web application and the administrator's browser session, allowing unauthorized file modifications through seemingly legitimate administrative functions. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only that an administrator visits a malicious webpage while authenticated, making it particularly insidious as it doesn't require complex social engineering or additional attack vectors. The underlying flaw lies in the component's failure to properly validate the origin of requests, enabling attackers to bypass standard security controls that would normally prevent unauthorized modifications.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-15182 extends far beyond simple data manipulation, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and persistent backdoor access. When an administrator loads a malicious webpage, the vulnerability allows attackers to modify files within the CMS environment, potentially leading to the installation of malicious code, data exfiltration, or complete service disruption. The fact that this vulnerability requires administrative privileges for exploitation means that successful attacks can result in unauthorized changes to core system files, user accounts, or configuration settings that could persist long after the initial attack. Organizations using affected versions of SOY CMS face significant risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and potential complete system takeover, especially if administrators are not vigilant about visiting untrusted websites.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-15182 must focus on immediate version upgrades to SOY Inquiry 2.0.0.4 or later, which includes the necessary security patches to address both the CSRF and RCE vulnerabilities. System administrators should also implement additional protective measures such as implementing Content Security Policy headers to prevent unauthorized script execution, monitoring for unusual file modification patterns, and conducting regular security audits of the CMS environment. The vulnerability's resolution through version 3.0.2.328 of SOY CMS demonstrates the importance of maintaining current software versions and applying security updates promptly. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation, access controls, and privileged account monitoring to reduce the potential impact of successful exploitation. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege and proper input validation as outlined in various cybersecurity frameworks including the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques.