CVE-2020-35754 in Quick.CMS
Summary
by MITRE • 01/29/2021
OpenSolution Quick.CMS < 6.7 and Quick.Cart < 6.7 allow an authenticated user to perform code injection (and consequently Remote Code Execution) via the input fields of the Language tab.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/31/2025
This vulnerability resides in the OpenSolution Quick.CMS and Quick.Cart content management systems where versions prior to 6.7 contain a critical code injection flaw that can be exploited by authenticated users. The vulnerability specifically affects the Language tab input fields, which do not properly sanitize user-provided data before processing. When an authenticated attacker submits malicious input through these fields, the system fails to validate or escape the data, allowing arbitrary code execution within the context of the web application. The flaw represents a classic insecure input handling issue that enables privilege escalation from authenticated user to system compromise. According to CWE-94, this vulnerability maps directly to "Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')" where the application incorporates untrusted data into executable code without proper validation or sanitization. The attack vector operates through the web interface where legitimate users with appropriate permissions can manipulate the language configuration settings, making this particularly dangerous as it leverages existing user privileges rather than requiring initial unauthorized access. The technical implementation likely involves the system processing user input as if it were configuration data or code, without proper separation between user-supplied content and executable code paths. This vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059.001 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter" and T1078.004 for "Valid Accounts" as it requires authenticated access but enables arbitrary code execution. The operational impact extends beyond simple data manipulation as successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within the network. Attackers could leverage this to establish persistent backdoors, install malware, or use the compromised system as a launch point for attacking other network resources. Organizations running affected versions must immediately implement patches and updates to prevent exploitation, while also monitoring for suspicious activity in language configuration areas. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and the principle of least privilege in web application security, where even authenticated users should not be granted the ability to execute arbitrary code within the application context. Security teams should also implement network segmentation and monitoring of administrative interfaces to detect unauthorized configuration changes that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and code reviews focusing on input handling and validation mechanisms are essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of the software stack.
The vulnerability's exploitation requires an authenticated user account, which significantly reduces the initial attack surface but increases the potential impact once compromised. This authentication requirement means that attackers must first obtain valid credentials through phishing, credential stuffing, or other social engineering techniques before they can leverage this specific code injection flaw. The fact that the vulnerability exists in the language configuration tab suggests that the system processes user input through a code generation or template mechanism, where configuration data is interpreted as executable code. This represents a dangerous design pattern where configuration parameters are not properly isolated from code execution contexts, violating fundamental security principles of input sanitization and output encoding. The attack could potentially be chained with other vulnerabilities to escalate privileges or bypass authentication mechanisms, making this a particularly dangerous weakness in the security architecture. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability could lead to violations of security standards such as those outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 27001, as it represents a failure to implement proper access controls and input validation measures. Organizations should conduct immediate risk assessments to determine if any systems are running vulnerable versions and implement network-based mitigations such as web application firewalls to block suspicious input patterns. The vulnerability also highlights the need for regular security updates and patch management processes, as this flaw existed for an extended period before being addressed in version 6.7. Incident response procedures should include monitoring for unauthorized language configuration changes and automated alerts for suspicious code injection attempts in administrative interfaces.