CVE-2023-43962 in CMS Public Edition
Summary
by MITRE • 12/09/2024
Cross Site Scripting vulnerability in Xunrui CMS Public Edition v.4.6.1 allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code via the project name function in the project settings tab.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-43962 represents a critical cross site scripting flaw within the Xunrui CMS Public Edition version 4.6.1. This security weakness resides in the project settings tab functionality, specifically within the project name handling mechanism, creating a dangerous attack surface for remote threat actors. The vulnerability manifests when user-supplied input containing malicious script code is processed through the project name parameter without adequate sanitization or validation measures. This allows attackers to inject malicious payloads that can be executed in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data theft, or complete system compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a standard XSS attack pattern where malicious input is accepted through the project name field and subsequently rendered without proper output encoding or validation. When legitimate users navigate to pages containing the malicious project name, their browsers execute the injected scripts, creating a persistent threat vector. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross site scripting as a fundamental web application security weakness, specifically addressing the failure to sanitize user inputs before rendering them in web pages. This flaw operates under the ATT&CK framework as a code injection technique, specifically targeting the web application layer where user input is improperly handled.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or even escalate privileges within the CMS environment. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to the system, potentially compromising the entire content management infrastructure. The attack requires minimal privileges and can be executed through standard web browser interactions, making it particularly dangerous for widespread exploitation. Organizations using this vulnerable version of Xunrui CMS face significant risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and potential complete system compromise through this single vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-43962 should prioritize immediate patching of the Xunrui CMS to version 4.6.2 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms for all user-supplied data, particularly within administrative interfaces. Web application firewalls should be configured to detect and block suspicious script injection patterns, while regular security audits should monitor for similar vulnerabilities across the entire application stack. Additionally, implementing content security policies and disabling unnecessary administrative functions can significantly reduce the attack surface. Security teams should also consider deploying automated vulnerability scanning tools to identify similar weaknesses in other web applications and ensure proper security hardening practices are maintained throughout the organization's digital infrastructure.