CVE-2021-35343 in SeedDMS
Summary
by MITRE • 08/03/2021
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the /op/op.Ajax.php in SeedDMS v5.1.x
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2021
The CVE-2021-35343 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the SeedDMS document management system version 5.1.x, specifically affecting the /op/op.Ajax.php endpoint. This vulnerability exposes the application to unauthorized actions that can be executed by malicious actors without user consent, fundamentally undermining the security model of the web application. The flaw resides in the application's failure to properly validate and authenticate AJAX requests, creating a pathway for attackers to manipulate the system through crafted requests that appear legitimate to the server.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the absence of proper anti-CSRF token validation within the op.Ajax.php script. When users interact with the SeedDMS interface, the application relies on session-based authentication mechanisms that do not adequately verify the origin of AJAX requests. This design flaw allows attackers to construct malicious web pages or exploit existing vulnerabilities to trick authenticated users into performing unintended operations such as file modifications, user account changes, or system configuration alterations. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the application layer where legitimate user sessions are trusted without sufficient verification of request legitimacy.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data integrity concerns to encompass potential system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive document repositories. An attacker could leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary commands on the server, potentially leading to complete system takeover or data exfiltration. The vulnerability affects all versions of SeedDMS 5.1.x, making it a widespread concern for organizations that have not upgraded to patched versions. The attack vector requires minimal sophistication, as it can be exploited through simple HTML forms or JavaScript constructs that automatically submit requests to the vulnerable endpoint, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users may unknowingly interact with malicious content.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including the deployment of anti-CSRF tokens for all AJAX requests, proper request origin validation, and comprehensive session management controls. The implementation of the OWASP CSRF Prevention Cheat Sheet recommendations would significantly reduce the risk exposure, including the use of synchronized tokens, custom headers, and referer header validation. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls with CSRF detection capabilities and conduct thorough security assessments of their SeedDMS installations to identify any additional attack vectors. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery weaknesses, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious web content, highlighting the need for comprehensive security controls beyond simple patching measures.
The broader implications of this vulnerability underscore the importance of proper input validation and authentication mechanisms in web applications. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation oversights in session management can create significant security risks, particularly in document management systems where access controls are paramount. Organizations should adopt a defense-in-depth approach that includes regular security assessments, automated vulnerability scanning, and continuous monitoring of application behavior to detect anomalous activities that may indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability serves as a reminder that even well-established applications require ongoing security attention and that proper security architecture principles must be applied consistently throughout the application lifecycle.