CVE-2020-35973 in zzcms
Summary
by MITRE • 06/04/2021
An issue was discovered in zzcms2020. There is a XSS vulnerability that can insert and execute JS code arbitrarily via /user/manage.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-35973 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within zzcms2020, a content management system that has been widely deployed in web environments. This vulnerability exists in the user management component of the application, specifically within the /user/manage.php file, which serves as a critical interface for administrative users to manage their accounts and system configurations. The flaw enables attackers to inject malicious javascript code that executes within the context of other users' browsers, potentially compromising the entire user session and system integrity. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of persistent cross-site scripting as the malicious code can be stored and executed across multiple user interactions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of input parameters within the /user/manage.php endpoint, which fails to properly sanitize or validate user-supplied data before processing. When an authenticated user accesses this page, the malicious javascript code that was previously injected becomes executed in their browser context, creating a persistent threat that can affect multiple users over time. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the administrative context of the system, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges, steal session cookies, or perform unauthorized actions on behalf of legitimate users. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices and inadequate output encoding mechanisms, which are fundamental security controls that should prevent such injections from occurring in the first place. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a classic example of how insufficient sanitization of user inputs can lead to severe security consequences.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-35973 extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to establish persistent access to user accounts and potentially compromise the entire web application infrastructure. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could harvest session tokens, redirect users to malicious sites, modify content, or even gain administrative control over the CMS if the vulnerable endpoint provides sufficient privileges. The threat landscape for such vulnerabilities is particularly concerning because they can be leveraged for advanced persistent threats where attackers maintain long-term access to compromised systems. This vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including social engineering campaigns where users are tricked into clicking malicious links, or through automated scanning tools that identify and exploit the flaw. The persistent nature of the vulnerability means that once exploited, the malicious code continues to execute whenever affected users access the compromised page, creating a continuous threat vector.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate input validation and output encoding measures within the zzcms2020 application. The most effective approach involves implementing comprehensive sanitization of all user inputs through proper escaping and encoding techniques, particularly for javascript, html, and css content. Security patches should be applied immediately to address the root cause of the vulnerability, ensuring that user-supplied data is properly validated before being processed or stored within the system. Organizations should implement proper access controls and privilege separation to limit the impact of potential exploitation, while also establishing monitoring mechanisms to detect unusual activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of content security policies and proper header configurations can provide additional layers of protection against such attacks. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top 10 and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security measures including regular security assessments, input validation, and proper output encoding to prevent cross-site scripting vulnerabilities from being exploited in real-world scenarios.