CVE-2020-18889 in puppyCMS
Summary
by MITRE • 05/07/2021
Cross Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in puppyCMS v5.1 that can change the admin's password via /admin/settings.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/12/2021
This cross site request forgery vulnerability exists in puppyCMS version 5.1 within the administrative settings page at /admin/settings.php. The flaw allows authenticated attackers to manipulate the administrative password change functionality without proper authorization checks. The vulnerability stems from the absence of anti-csrf tokens or proper session validation mechanisms when processing password modification requests through the administrative interface. Attackers can craft malicious requests that, when executed by an authenticated administrator, will change the administrator password without the user's knowledge or consent. This represents a critical security weakness that directly compromises the integrity of the administrative account and potentially the entire system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the web application failing to validate the origin or authenticity of requests made to the password change endpoint. When an administrator visits a malicious website or clicks on a compromised link, the attacker can trigger a request to /admin/settings.php that modifies the administrative password. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in web applications. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation and insufficient request verification mechanisms that are fundamental requirements for secure web application development.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with complete administrative control over the puppyCMS instance. Once an attacker successfully changes the administrative password, they can modify content, access sensitive data, install malicious software, and potentially escalate privileges to gain system-level access. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no special authentication beyond having a user with administrative privileges visit a malicious page, making it exploitable through social engineering attacks or by compromising user sessions. This type of attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers phishing and social engineering methods to gain initial access.
Organizations using puppyCMS v5.1 should immediately implement mitigations including the addition of anti-csrf tokens to all administrative forms, proper validation of request origins, and implementation of secure session management practices. The most effective immediate fix involves adding unique tokens that are generated per session and validated on each administrative request. Additionally, implementing proper referer header validation and requiring multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts can significantly reduce the risk. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of keeping CMS platforms updated and following security best practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks.