CVE-2024-28666 in DedeCMS
Summary
by MITRE • 03/13/2024
DedeCMS v5.7 was discovered to contain a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability via the component /dede/media_add.php
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/15/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-28666 affects DedeCMS version 5.7 and represents a critical Cross-Site Request Forgery flaw located within the media_add.php component. This issue arises from the absence of proper CSRF protection mechanisms in the administrative upload functionality, allowing authenticated attackers to execute unauthorized actions on behalf of legitimate users. The vulnerability specifically targets the media file upload process which is commonly used by administrators to add various media assets to their content management system. According to CWE-352, this vulnerability falls under the category of Cross-Site Request Forgery, which occurs when a web application fails to verify the origin of HTTP requests, enabling malicious actors to perform actions without user consent. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it operates within the administrative interface where users possess elevated privileges, potentially allowing attackers to upload malicious files or modify system configurations.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the lack of anti-CSRF tokens or other validation mechanisms in the media_add.php script. When an administrator navigates to the media upload page and subsequently submits a request to upload a file, the system should verify that the request originated from the legitimate administrative interface rather than being forged through a malicious third-party website. Without proper validation, an attacker can craft a malicious webpage containing embedded requests to the vulnerable endpoint that automatically executes when the administrator visits the page. This type of attack is categorized under ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which involves the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities to perform unauthorized actions. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates within the context of authenticated sessions, meaning that attackers can leverage existing administrative privileges to perform malicious activities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file uploads, as it can potentially lead to complete system compromise. An attacker who successfully exploits this CSRF flaw could upload malicious PHP files that would execute with the privileges of the web server, potentially leading to remote code execution or data exfiltration. The administrative context of the vulnerable component means that attackers could modify existing media files, create backdoor access points, or even manipulate the content management system's core functionality. According to industry best practices for web application security, this vulnerability represents a significant risk to organizations that rely on DedeCMS for their content management needs. The presence of such a flaw in a widely-used CMS platform makes it particularly attractive to threat actors who may use automated scanning tools to identify vulnerable systems. Organizations using DedeCMS v5.7 should immediately assess their exposure to this vulnerability and implement appropriate mitigations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-28666 should focus on implementing proper CSRF protection mechanisms throughout the DedeCMS administrative interface. The most effective approach involves adding anti-CSRF tokens to all administrative forms and validating these tokens on the server-side before processing any requests. This implementation aligns with the recommendations found in OWASP CSRF Prevention Cheat Sheet and follows the principle of defense in depth. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security measures such as requiring multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts, limiting administrative access to specific IP addresses, and regularly monitoring for unauthorized administrative activities. The remediation process should include upgrading to a patched version of DedeCMS if available, or implementing custom CSRF protection mechanisms if immediate upgrades are not feasible. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious file upload activities and unauthorized administrative access attempts. Organizations should also review their overall security posture and ensure that all web applications implement proper CSRF protection measures, as this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of validating request origins in web applications.