CVE-2020-36414 in CMS Made Simple
Summary
by MITRE • 07/03/2021
A stored cross scripting (XSS) vulnerability in CMS Made Simple 2.2.14 allows authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML via a crafted payload entered into the "URL (slug)" or "Extra" fields under the "Add Article" feature.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2021
This vulnerability exists within CMS Made Simple version 2.2.14, representing a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw that enables authenticated attackers to inject malicious code into the system. The vulnerability specifically affects the "Add Article" feature where users can input data into the "URL (slug)" and "Extra" fields, creating a persistent threat vector that can compromise the application and its users. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the content management system's article creation functionality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows an attacker with valid credentials to submit malicious payloads through the designated input fields, which are then stored within the application's database. When other users view the affected article or related content, the malicious script executes in their browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. This stored XSS vulnerability operates through the principle of injecting unvalidated user input directly into web pages without proper sanitization or encoding, making it particularly dangerous as the malicious code persists and affects multiple users over time.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges, access sensitive administrative functions, or exfiltrate data from authenticated sessions. The vulnerability affects the core content management capabilities of the system, potentially compromising the integrity of all articles and user-generated content within the application. Attackers can leverage this flaw to create persistent backdoors, manipulate content, or establish a foothold for further attacks within the network infrastructure. This represents a significant risk to organizations relying on CMS Made Simple for their web presence, as the vulnerability can be exploited to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information and administrative controls.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of the CMS Made Simple application to the latest version that addresses this vulnerability, along with implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should enforce strict sanitization of all user inputs, particularly in fields that are rendered directly in web pages. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script execution, while regular security audits and penetration testing can help identify similar vulnerabilities. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which describes cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting, representing a common attack vector that exploits web application vulnerabilities to execute malicious code in user browsers.