CVE-2020-20294 in CMSWing
Summary
by MITRE • 02/02/2021
An issue was found in CMSWing project version 1.3.8. Because the log function does not check the log parameter, malicious parameters can execute arbitrary commands.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-20294 resides within the CMSWing content management system project at version 1.3.8, representing a critical security flaw that stems from insufficient input validation within the logging functionality. This issue manifests when the system's logging mechanism fails to properly sanitize or validate the parameters passed to it, creating an avenue for command injection attacks. The flaw directly violates fundamental security principles of input validation and output encoding that are essential for preventing malicious code execution in web applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through the log function's lack of parameter validation, which allows attackers to inject malicious payloads directly into log parameters. When these unvalidated parameters are subsequently processed or displayed within the application context, they can trigger arbitrary command execution on the underlying system. This represents a classic command injection vulnerability that aligns with CWE-77 and follows patterns commonly associated with the ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and script injection. The vulnerability essentially transforms what should be a simple logging operation into a potential attack vector for remote code execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-20294 extends beyond simple data compromise, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive resources. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the web application, potentially escalating to system-level access depending on the execution context. This vulnerability affects organizations using CMSWing 1.3.8 who may face unauthorized data access, system manipulation, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure. The implications are particularly severe for web applications that rely heavily on logging functions for operational monitoring and security auditing.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of the CMSWing application to version 1.3.9 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the logging parameter validation. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and sanitization measures across all logging functions, ensuring that all parameters passed to log methods undergo proper sanitization before processing. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and privilege separation can limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual log entries that may indicate attempted exploitation, while network segmentation and firewall rules can help prevent unauthorized access to vulnerable systems. The remediation process should also include thorough code review of all logging mechanisms to identify and address similar vulnerabilities across the application codebase, following security best practices established in OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines.