CVE-2020-22765 in NukeViet
Summary
by MITRE • 07/30/2021
Cross Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in NukeViet cms 4.4.0 via the editor in the News module.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/06/2021
The CVE-2020-22765 vulnerability represents a critical cross site scripting flaw discovered in the NukeViet content management system version 4.4.0, specifically within the News module's editor component. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is a fundamental web application security weakness that allows attackers to inject malicious client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability manifests when the CMS processes user input through the news editor interface without proper sanitization or validation, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of other users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when administrators or content creators utilize the rich text editor functionality within the News module to input content that contains malicious script payloads. These payloads can be crafted to execute in the victim's browser when they view the affected news articles, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages the trust relationship between the CMS and its users, allowing attackers to bypass normal access controls and execute code within the privileged context of authenticated users. The attack vector is classified as reflected XSS, where the malicious script is reflected off the web server and executed in the victim's browser, often through carefully crafted input in news article titles, content fields, or metadata.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains that compromise entire user sessions and potentially lead to full system compromise. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal administrator credentials, modify content, or redirect users to phishing sites that mimic the legitimate CMS interface. The vulnerability also poses significant risks to user privacy and data integrity, as malicious scripts can access and exfiltrate sensitive information from the browser's context. From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through phishing, and T1059.001 for execution through scripting, making it a multi-faceted threat that can be exploited in various attack scenarios. The impact is particularly severe in environments where the CMS is used for publishing sensitive information or where administrators have elevated privileges.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-22765 should focus on immediate patch application to the NukeViet CMS, as version 4.4.0 has been identified as vulnerable and remediation requires updating to a patched version. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent script injection, particularly within the editor components of the CMS. Security headers such as Content Security Policy should be configured to restrict script execution and prevent unauthorized code loading from external domains. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other CMS modules or custom implementations. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect suspicious activity patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, while user education programs should emphasize the importance of avoiding untrusted content and maintaining updated security practices. The vulnerability also underscores the necessity of implementing proper web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to protect against known exploit patterns and prevent unauthorized access to critical CMS functionalities.