CVE-2020-19915 in Wuzhi
Summary
by MITRE • 09/21/2021
Cross Site Scripting (XSS vulnerability exists in WUZHI CMS 4.1.0 via the mailbox username in index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/29/2021
The vulnerability CVE-2020-19915 represents a cross site scripting flaw identified in WUZHI CMS version 4.1.0, specifically affecting the mailbox username parameter within the index.php file. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross Site Scripting, which occurs when an application incorporates untrusted data into web pages without proper validation or encoding, allowing malicious scripts to be executed in the context of other users' browsers. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it leverages user input through the mailbox username field, which is typically used for email address submission or user identification within the content management system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input sanitization and output encoding practices within the WUZHI CMS application. When users submit their mailbox usernames through the index.php interface, the application fails to properly validate or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This lack of proper sanitization creates an environment where an attacker can inject malicious payloads that will execute whenever other users view the affected page or interact with the submitted data. The vulnerability specifically targets the username parameter, suggesting that the application processes this field without adequate protection mechanisms.
The operational impact of this XSS vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data manipulation within the victim's browser context. An attacker could craft a malicious username containing JavaScript code that would execute in the browser of any user who views the affected page, potentially stealing cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or even modifying content displayed on the website. This vulnerability particularly threatens user privacy and application integrity, as it allows unauthorized access to user sessions and can be exploited to gain elevated privileges within the CMS environment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-19915 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the WUZHI CMS application. The recommended approach includes sanitizing all user inputs, particularly those used in dynamic content generation, and applying appropriate HTML escaping to prevent script execution. Organizations should also implement Content Security Policy headers to limit the sources from which scripts can be loaded and consider implementing proper input length restrictions and character validation. Additionally, regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application, following the ATT&CK framework's guidance on web application security controls. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation, aligning with industry standards that emphasize the need for comprehensive protection against injection attacks and cross site scripting threats.