CVE-2020-23697 in Monstra
Summary
by MITRE • 07/07/2021
Cross Site Scripting vulnerabilty in Monstra CMS 3.0.4 via the page feature in admin/index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/10/2021
The CVE-2020-23697 vulnerability represents a critical cross site scripting flaw discovered in Monstra CMS version 3.0.4, specifically affecting the administrative page feature within the admin/index.php file. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before rendering it within the web interface. The flaw exists in the context of administrative functionality where authorized users can manipulate page content through the administrative dashboard, creating a potential attack vector that could be exploited by malicious actors with access to administrative credentials or through social engineering techniques to obtain such access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when user input containing malicious script code is processed and displayed within the admin interface without proper sanitization. This typically involves scenarios where administrators edit page content, manage navigation menus, or modify other administrative elements that are subsequently rendered to the browser. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as Cross Site Scripting, which specifically addresses the improper handling of untrusted data within web applications. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the compromised system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent access to the administrative interface. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can execute arbitrary code within the browser context of authenticated users, potentially gaining access to sensitive administrative functions, modifying content, or even escalating privileges within the CMS environment. This type of vulnerability particularly affects organizations relying on Monstra CMS for content management, as it undermines the integrity of the administrative interface and can lead to complete system compromise if attackers can obtain administrative access through the XSS payload.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-23697 should focus on immediate patching of the Monstra CMS to version 3.0.5 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the XSS vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application, particularly for all user-supplied content that gets rendered in the administrative interface. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded and executed. Security measures should also include regular security audits of web applications, proper user access controls, and monitoring for suspicious administrative activities. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for Scripting and T1566.001 for Spearphishing Attachment, as attackers may use this vulnerability to establish initial access or execute malicious code through compromised administrative sessions.