CVE-2020-19683 in zzzcms
Summary
by MITRE • 12/09/2021
A Cross Site Scripting (XSS) exists in ZZZCMS V1.7.1 via an editfile action in save.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2021
The vulnerability CVE-2020-19683 represents a critical cross site scripting flaw discovered in ZZZCMS version 1.7.1, specifically within the editfile action of the save.php component. This vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing it within the web application's backend operations. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into the application's file editing functionality, potentially compromising the integrity and security of the entire content management system.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from the application's failure to adequately filter or escape special characters in user inputs submitted through the editfile action. When administrators or authorized users access the save.php endpoint to modify files, the application processes the input data without sufficient sanitization measures, creating an environment where attacker-controlled payloads can be executed within the context of other users' browsers. This weakness directly maps to CWE-79 which categorizes cross site scripting vulnerabilities as a result of inadequate input validation and output encoding. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through various vectors including direct injection into file content fields or through manipulated parameters in the editfile action.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, manipulate content, and potentially escalate privileges within the CMS environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to administrative functions, modify website content, steal user credentials, or redirect victims to malicious sites. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the CMS system, particularly impacting the trust relationships between the application and its users. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with T1059.007 which covers scripting languages and T1566.001 which addresses spearphishing attachments, as attackers could leverage this flaw to deliver malicious payloads through compromised CMS interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-19683 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase, particularly within the save.php endpoint and related file editing functionality. Security patches should be applied immediately to update the CMS to a version that properly sanitizes user inputs and implements proper HTML escaping for all dynamic content. Organizations should also implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, conduct regular security code reviews, and establish robust input validation routines that filter out potentially dangerous characters and patterns. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while regular vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other components of the web application infrastructure.