CVE-2022-45540 in EyouCMS
Summary
by MITRE • 01/20/2023
EyouCMS <= 1.6.0 was discovered a reflected-XSS in article type editor component in POST value "name" if the value contains a malformed UTF-8 char.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/18/2023
EyouCMS version 1.6.0 and earlier contains a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability within its article type editor component that poses significant security risks to web applications utilizing this content management system. This vulnerability specifically manifests when processing POST requests containing a malformed UTF-8 character sequence in the "name" parameter, creating an exploitable vector for malicious actors to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the CMS's article type editor functionality. When the system receives a POST request with the "name" parameter containing malformed UTF-8 characters, it fails to properly sanitize or encode this input before rendering it back to users in the web interface. This reflected behavior allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the victim's browser session.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks within the context of the ATT&CK framework's initial access and execution phases. An attacker could craft malicious payloads that redirect users to phishing sites, steal authentication cookies, or establish persistent backdoors through the compromised CMS interface. The reflected nature of this XSS means that the attack vector is typically delivered through social engineering techniques, where victims are tricked into clicking malicious links that contain the crafted payload.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and represents a classic example of how improper input handling can lead to severe security consequences. The issue particularly affects web applications that rely on EyouCMS for content management, where administrators or content editors may be tricked into viewing maliciously crafted content types that trigger the XSS condition.
The most effective mitigation strategies include implementing proper input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied data, particularly in administrative interfaces where the risk of exploitation is highest. Organizations should immediately upgrade to EyouCMS version 1.6.1 or later, which contains patches addressing this specific vulnerability. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers and regular security scanning of web applications can provide defense-in-depth measures against similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of proper UTF-8 handling and validation in web applications, as malformed character sequences often indicate deeper input sanitization issues that can lead to multiple attack vectors beyond simple XSS.