CVE-2020-18145 in umeditor
Summary
by MITRE • 07/15/2021
Cross Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in umeditor v1.2.3 via /public/common/umeditor/php/getcontent.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/18/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-18145 represents a cross site scripting flaw within the umeditor rich text editor component version 1.2.3. This particular vulnerability manifests in the /public/common/umeditor/php/getcontent.php endpoint which processes user input without adequate sanitization or validation mechanisms. The affected component is commonly used in web applications that require rich text editing capabilities, making it a significant concern for organizations deploying such systems.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the php script. When user-provided content is processed through the getcontent.php endpoint, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape special characters that could be interpreted as executable script code by web browsers. This allows attackers to inject malicious javascript payloads that execute in the context of other users' browsers who view the affected content. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79 which categorizes cross site scripting as a critical weakness in web application security. The flaw exists because the application does not implement proper contextual output encoding or input validation, creating an environment where attacker-controlled data can be executed as code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement. An attacker could leverage this XSS flaw to hijack user sessions, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of victims, steal sensitive information, or redirect users to malicious domains. The vulnerability affects any web application that utilizes umeditor version 1.2.3 and processes user input through the specified php endpoint. Given that rich text editors are commonly integrated into content management systems, blog platforms, and administrative interfaces, the potential attack surface is substantial. This vulnerability could enable attackers to escalate privileges or conduct persistent attacks against users who interact with compromised content, particularly in environments where administrators or privileged users access the affected systems.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate remediation through the upgrade of umeditor to a patched version that addresses the XSS vulnerability. Organizations should implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms that prevent malicious script execution. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense in depth measures to prevent unauthorized script execution. Security teams should also conduct thorough code reviews of all user input processing components and implement proper sanitization routines. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 which describes the use of scripting languages for execution, and T1566 which covers social engineering through malicious content delivery. Regular security testing including automated scanning and manual penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the web application stack.