CVE-2022-26982 in SimpleMachinesForum
Summary
by MITRE • 04/05/2022
SimpleMachinesForum 2.1.1 and earlier allows remote authenticated administrators to execute arbitrary code by inserting a vulnerable php code because the themes can be modified by an administrator.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/09/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-26982 affects Simple Machines Forum versions 2.1.1 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that enables authenticated administrative users to achieve remote code execution. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the forum's theme modification capabilities, creating a path for malicious code injection that can be executed with administrative privileges. The flaw exists because the system allows administrators to modify theme files directly, without proper restrictions on the code content that can be inserted into these files.
This vulnerability operates through a code injection vector where an authenticated administrator can insert malicious php code into theme files, which then executes within the context of the web server. The technical implementation relies on the forum's theme management system not properly validating or sanitizing the php code that administrators can input, allowing for arbitrary code execution. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it leverages the elevated privileges of administrative accounts, eliminating the need for additional authentication or exploitation techniques. Attackers who gain administrative access can exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary commands on the server, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it can lead to full system compromise, data exfiltration, and persistence mechanisms. An attacker with administrative privileges could use this vulnerability to establish backdoors, escalate privileges, or deploy malware within the web application environment. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire forum system, potentially exposing user data, forum configurations, and underlying server resources. Organizations using affected versions face significant risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and potential regulatory compliance violations. The vulnerability also impacts the availability of the forum service, as malicious actors could potentially disrupt operations through code injection attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-26982 should focus on immediate patching of affected systems to version 2.1.2 or later, which addresses the code injection vulnerability in the theme modification functionality. Organizations should implement strict access controls and privilege separation, ensuring that administrative accounts are properly secured and monitored. The implementation of web application firewalls and input validation mechanisms can provide additional protection layers. Security teams should conduct thorough code reviews of theme modification features and implement proper sanitization of all user inputs. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-94, which describes improper validation of code in interpreted languages, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through web shells. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other components of the web application stack.