CVE-2020-20347 in WTCMS
Summary
by MITRE • 09/02/2021
WTCMS 1.0 contains a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the source field under the article management module.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/05/2021
The vulnerability CVE-2020-20347 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within WTCMS 1.0's article management module, specifically affecting the source field input parameter. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79 which defines improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a prime target for malicious actors seeking to exploit web applications. The flaw exists in the content management system's handling of user-supplied data within the article management interface, where the source field fails to properly sanitize or escape user input before rendering it back to users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows an attacker to inject malicious JavaScript code into the source field of articles through the management interface. When other users view the affected article page, the malicious script executes in their browsers within the context of the vulnerable application, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that the malicious payload persists in the database and affects all users who access the compromised content without requiring them to interact with the malicious link directly. This characteristic makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can remain active for extended periods and affect multiple users.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-20347 extends beyond simple data theft or session manipulation, as it provides attackers with a persistent foothold within the content management system. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish backdoors, modify content, or redirect users to malicious sites, potentially compromising the entire website's integrity. The vulnerability affects the application's security posture by undermining user trust and potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks such as credential harvesting or privilege escalation within the CMS environment. Given that this is a stored XSS vulnerability, the attack surface remains persistent and can be exploited repeatedly without requiring user interaction beyond the initial injection.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-20347 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the WTCMS 1.0 application. The recommended approach involves applying proper HTML escaping to all user-supplied content before rendering it in web pages, utilizing Content Security Policy headers to restrict script execution, and implementing strict input validation that rejects or sanitizes potentially malicious characters. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and prevent XSS attack patterns, while ensuring that all CMS components are regularly updated to address known vulnerabilities. Additionally, security awareness training for administrators and developers can help prevent similar issues in future implementations by emphasizing the importance of input sanitization and output encoding in web application development processes. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to established security frameworks such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten project.