CVE-2022-45541 in EyouCMS
Summary
by MITRE • 01/20/2023
EyouCMS <= 1.6.0 was discovered a reflected-XSS in the article attribute editor component in POST value "value" if the value contains a non-integer char.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/18/2023
EyouCMS version 1.6.0 and earlier versions contain a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability within their article attribute editor component that arises from improper input validation of the POST parameter named "value". This vulnerability specifically manifests when the value parameter contains non-integer characters, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors to inject client-side scripts into the application's response. The flaw exists in the web application's handling of user-supplied data during the processing of article attributes, where the system fails to adequately sanitize or escape the input before incorporating it into the HTTP response sent to the victim's browser. This reflected XSS vulnerability represents a critical security risk that can be leveraged by attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a victim's browser session, potentially leading to unauthorized actions being performed on behalf of the user.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's insufficient validation mechanisms that fail to properly filter or escape special characters in the "value" parameter during the attribute editing process. When an attacker submits a POST request containing a non-integer value with script tags or other malicious payloads, the system processes this input without adequate sanitization, allowing the malicious code to be reflected back to the user's browser. This behavior directly aligns with CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as the improper handling of input data that allows attackers to inject executable scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through various attack vectors including phishing campaigns, social engineering, or by compromising user sessions through session hijacking techniques.
The operational impact of this reflected XSS vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including credential theft, session hijacking, data exfiltration, and unauthorized access to administrative functions. An attacker could craft malicious payloads that steal cookies, session tokens, or other sensitive information from authenticated users, potentially gaining elevated privileges within the CMS system. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the web application's data, as it allows unauthorized individuals to manipulate the application's behavior and potentially gain access to sensitive user information or administrative controls. Given that this vulnerability exists in the attribute editor component, it could be exploited to manipulate article metadata or other content management features, leading to further compromise of the content management system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output sanitization measures within the application's codebase. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input through proper encoding techniques, specifically implementing HTML entity encoding for any data that will be rendered in the browser context. The system should validate that the "value" parameter contains only expected integer values and reject or sanitize any input containing non-integer characters. Additionally, implementing a Content Security Policy (CSP) header can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed. The recommended remediation includes updating to a patched version of EyouCMS where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms, following the principle of least privilege and implementing secure coding practices that align with OWASP Top Ten security guidelines. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in their web applications, particularly focusing on input validation and output encoding controls that are essential for preventing XSS attacks in content management systems.