CVE-2024-2823 in DedeCMS
Summary
by MITRE • 03/22/2024
A vulnerability has been found in DedeCMS 5.7 and classified as problematic. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the file /src/dede/mda_main.php. The manipulation leads to cross-site request forgery. The attack can be initiated remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. VDB-257710 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability. 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 • 04/13/2025
This cross-site request forgery vulnerability in DedeCMS 5.7 represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of the content management system's administrative functions. The vulnerability specifically resides in the /src/dede/mda_main.php file, which serves as a key component in the administrative interface. Cross-site request forgery attacks exploit the trust that a web application places in a user's browser, allowing attackers to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users. This particular flaw enables remote exploitation without requiring any authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous for administrators who may be tricked into visiting malicious websites or clicking on compromised links while logged into the CMS.
The technical nature of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the absence of proper anti-forgery tokens or validation mechanisms in the affected administrative endpoint. When administrators navigate to compromised websites or receive malicious emails containing crafted requests, the vulnerable system fails to verify the authenticity of the requests originating from the legitimate administrative interface. This allows attackers to execute administrative functions such as modifying content, deleting files, changing user permissions, or even gaining complete control over the CMS installation. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-352 indicates it falls into the category of Cross-Site Request Forgery, which is a well-documented attack pattern that has been consistently exploited across various web applications and content management systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise, as it can lead to complete system takeover and unauthorized modifications to the website's content and configuration. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to inject malicious code, deface websites, steal sensitive information, or establish backdoors for persistent access. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not need physical access to the server or any local network presence to carry out attacks. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous for websites that host sensitive data or require high availability, as unauthorized modifications could occur at any time without the administrator's knowledge. The fact that this vulnerability has been publicly disclosed and is known to be exploitable increases the risk significantly, as it provides threat actors with detailed information about the attack vector and potential impact.
Organizations using DedeCMS 5.7 should immediately implement mitigation strategies to protect their systems from this CSRF attack. The most effective approach involves implementing proper anti-forgery token mechanisms that validate the authenticity of administrative requests. This includes ensuring that all administrative actions require unique, unpredictable tokens that are tied to the user's session and validated server-side before processing any requests. Additionally, implementing strict referer header validation and CSRF protection libraries can provide additional layers of defense. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious request patterns associated with CSRF attacks. The lack of vendor response to early disclosure attempts underscores the importance of proactive security measures and the need for organizations to maintain their own security monitoring and response capabilities. According to ATT&CK framework category T1566, this vulnerability represents a technique for Initial Access through malicious web content, while the exploitation aligns with T1071.001 for Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols, as it leverages HTTP-based communication to execute unauthorized administrative actions. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar flaws in other components of the CMS and to ensure that all security patches are properly applied and tested in production environments.