CVE-2024-12666 in ClassCMS
Summary
by MITRE • 12/16/2024
A vulnerability has been found in ClassCMS up to 4.8 and classified as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the file /admin?do=admin:user:editPost of the component User Management Page. The manipulation leads to improper handling of insufficient privileges. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2024
This critical vulnerability in ClassCMS version 4.8 and earlier affects the user management functionality within the administrative interface. The flaw exists in the /admin?do=admin:user:editPost endpoint which handles user editing operations, creating a privilege escalation risk that allows unauthorized users to manipulate user accounts. The vulnerability stems from inadequate access control validation within the user management module, where insufficient privilege checks fail to properly verify administrative permissions before executing user modification operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper authentication and authorization controls that permit users with minimal privileges to perform administrative actions through crafted requests to the editPost endpoint. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a failure in the application's access control mechanisms. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely without requiring local system access, making it particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to bypass normal security boundaries from any network location.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant security risk for ClassCMS installations, as it enables attackers to modify user accounts including potentially elevating their own privileges or modifying other administrators' credentials. The public disclosure of the exploit means that threat actors can readily leverage this weakness without requiring advanced technical skills, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The attack vector through the web interface makes it accessible to a broad range of threat actors and increases the probability of successful exploitation.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285 (Improper Authorization) and follows patterns commonly associated with ATT&CK technique T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1548.001 (Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism). Organizations running affected ClassCMS versions should immediately apply the vendor-provided patch or update to a non-vulnerable release. Additionally, implementing network segmentation, monitoring for suspicious administrative activities, and conducting thorough access control reviews can help mitigate the risk. Regular security assessments of web applications and mandatory privilege verification checks should be enforced to prevent similar issues in the future.
The exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control implementation in web applications. The flaw essentially allows unauthorized privilege escalation through a straightforward attack vector that requires no specialized knowledge beyond basic web application exploitation techniques. Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation and implement comprehensive security controls including regular vulnerability assessments, privileged access monitoring, and adherence to secure coding practices that prevent improper authorization scenarios.