CVE-2020-19146 in Jfinal
Summary
by MITRE • 09/15/2021
Improper Access Control in Jfinal CMS v4.7.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via the 'TemplatePath' parameter in the component 'jfinal_cms/admin/folder/list'.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/19/2021
The vulnerability CVE-2020-19146 represents a critical improper access control flaw within Jfinal CMS version 4.7.1 and earlier releases, exposing sensitive system information to remote attackers through a specifically crafted parameter manipulation. This vulnerability resides within the administrative component structure of the content management system, particularly affecting the folder listing functionality that handles template path parameters. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and authorization checks that permit unauthorized users to traverse system directories and access restricted content through manipulation of the TemplatePath parameter.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic path traversal attack vector where the TemplatePath parameter fails to properly sanitize user input before processing. When an attacker submits a malicious TemplatePath value to the jfinal_cms/admin/folder/list endpoint, the system processes this input without sufficient validation mechanisms, allowing directory traversal operations to succeed. This weakness directly maps to CWE-22, which defines improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal vulnerabilities. The vulnerability enables attackers to bypass normal access controls and potentially access sensitive files, configuration data, or system resources that should remain restricted to authorized administrators.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant security risks to organizations utilizing affected Jfinal CMS versions, as it allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information without requiring authentication credentials. The exposure of template paths can reveal internal system structures, potentially exposing file locations, directory hierarchies, and configuration details that could aid in subsequent attack phases. Attackers may leverage this information to identify additional vulnerabilities, understand system architecture, or plan more sophisticated attacks targeting specific components within the CMS infrastructure. The remote nature of this exploit means that attackers can initiate the attack from any location without physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for web-facing applications.
Security mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-19146 should prioritize immediate remediation through updating to Jfinal CMS version 4.7.2 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the improper access control issue. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms that sanitize all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in file path operations. The implementation of proper access control checks at the application level, including authentication verification and authorization validation, is essential to prevent unauthorized access to administrative functions. Additionally, network-level security measures such as web application firewalls should be configured to monitor and filter suspicious parameter values, while regular security audits should verify that no unauthorized file access paths exist within the CMS structure. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which covers directory and file system discovery, indicating that attackers could use this vulnerability to gather intelligence about the target system's file structure. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege access controls, ensuring that administrative functions require proper authentication and authorization before execution, thereby reducing the attack surface and limiting potential damage from exploitation attempts.