CVE-2023-5221 in ForU
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in ForU CMS. This affects an unknown part of the file /install/index.php. The manipulation of the argument db_name leads to code injection. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. This product does not use versioning. This is why information about affected and unaffected releases are unavailable. The associated identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-240363. NOTE: The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/25/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-5221 represents a critical code injection flaw within ForU CMS that resides in the installation component at /install/index.php. This vulnerability stems from improper input validation where the db_name parameter can be manipulated to execute arbitrary code, creating a severe security risk for systems utilizing this content management platform. The absence of versioning in the product complicates the assessment of affected systems, as organizations cannot definitively determine which installations are vulnerable or remediated. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can initiate attacks without requiring physical access to the target system, significantly expanding the potential attack surface. The public disclosure of this exploit, coupled with the vendor's lack of response to early notifications, creates an urgent security concern for organizations currently running vulnerable versions of ForU CMS. The vulnerability's classification as critical aligns with CWE-94, which addresses "Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')" and falls under the ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers can execute arbitrary commands through the injection vector. The lack of vendor response demonstrates a concerning gap in security maintenance for this product, leaving users exposed to potential compromise. Organizations should immediately assess their deployment of ForU CMS to identify any installations running the vulnerable installation script, particularly those accessible from external networks. The absence of version control information makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it's impossible to determine the scope of potential compromise across different installations.
The technical exploitation of this code injection vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the db_name argument in the installation script, which likely fails to properly sanitize or validate user input before processing. This allows attackers to inject malicious code that gets executed during the database configuration process, potentially enabling full system compromise. The attack vector being remote means that threat actors can leverage this vulnerability from anywhere on the internet, without requiring local system access or credentials. The fact that this vulnerability affects the installation script suggests that even the initial setup phase of the CMS is potentially compromised, meaning that organizations cannot trust the integrity of their installation process. The exploitation of such a vulnerability typically involves crafting malicious input that bypasses normal input validation mechanisms, allowing attackers to inject shell commands or other executable code into the database configuration process. This type of vulnerability represents a fundamental failure in input sanitization practices and demonstrates poor security engineering principles. The public availability of the exploit increases the likelihood of widespread compromise, as the attack methodology is no longer restricted to a limited number of threat actors. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as actively exploited in the wild, given the public disclosure and the vendor's lack of response. The absence of version information makes it particularly challenging for security teams to implement proper patch management or remediation strategies.
Organizations currently utilizing ForU CMS must take immediate action to assess their exposure to CVE-2023-5221, particularly focusing on systems where the installation script remains accessible and executable. The recommended mitigation strategy involves disabling or removing the vulnerable installation directory entirely from production environments, as this represents the most effective immediate protection against exploitation. Additionally, organizations should implement network-level controls to restrict access to the installation script, ensuring that it is only accessible from trusted internal networks. Security teams should conduct comprehensive network scans to identify any systems running vulnerable versions of ForU CMS and ensure that the installation process is not exposed to unauthorized access. The lack of vendor response necessitates that organizations rely on their own security measures, including network segmentation, access controls, and monitoring for suspicious activity related to database configuration processes. Implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms in any custom code that interfaces with database configuration parameters would help prevent similar vulnerabilities in future development efforts. Regular security assessments should be conducted to identify other potentially vulnerable components within the CMS that may not have been disclosed in this particular vulnerability. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond immediate exploitation as it compromises the integrity of the entire installation process, potentially allowing attackers to establish persistent access or escalate privileges within the system. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for attempts to access or manipulate the vulnerable installation script, as this represents a known attack pattern that threat actors are actively exploiting. The absence of official patches or updates from the vendor makes this vulnerability particularly concerning, as organizations cannot rely on standard update procedures for remediation.