CVE-2023-51254 in JFinalCMS
Summary
by MITRE • 04/29/2024
Cross Site Scripting vulnerability in Jfinalcms v.5.0.0 allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code via a crafted script to the friendship link component.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2025
The Cross Site Scripting vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-51254 affects Jfinalcms version 5.0.0 and represents a critical security flaw that enables remote code execution through malicious input manipulation. This vulnerability specifically targets the friendship link component within the content management system, creating an attack vector that can be exploited by unauthorized actors to inject malicious scripts into the application's web interface. The flaw arises from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in the web application's response. The friendship link component serves as an entry point where attackers can submit crafted scripts that bypass the system's security controls, potentially allowing them to execute arbitrary code on the target server or manipulate user sessions.
This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79 which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a weakness where an application fails to properly encode or escape user-controllable data before including it in web pages served to other users. The operational impact of CVE-2023-51254 extends beyond simple script injection as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be leveraged for session hijacking, data theft, and further exploitation within the compromised environment. Attackers can craft malicious friendship link entries that contain malicious javascript payloads designed to steal cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or establish backdoors for continued access. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or elevated privileges to initiate the attack, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications that rely on Jfinalcms for content management.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with several ATT&CK framework techniques including T1566 for Phishing and T1059 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as the malicious code execution can lead to further system compromise and data exfiltration. Organizations using Jfinalcms v.5.0.0 face significant risk of unauthorized access and potential complete system compromise if this vulnerability remains unpatched. The attack surface expands when considering that friendship links are often publicly accessible and may be maintained by multiple users with varying privilege levels, creating multiple potential entry points for exploitation. Additionally, the vulnerability's persistence across different user sessions and the potential for automated exploitation through web crawlers or scanning tools makes it a particularly attractive target for malicious actors seeking to establish long-term presence within affected systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-51254 should prioritize immediate patch application from the vendor to address the root cause of the XSS vulnerability in the friendship link component. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures that ensure all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being processed or displayed in web interfaces. The security architecture should incorporate Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts, while also implementing proper access controls to restrict who can modify friendship link entries. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application. Network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect anomalous traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, and incident response procedures should be established to quickly address any successful breach attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks targeting the specific vulnerable component.