CVE-2024-28671 in DedeCMS
Summary
by MITRE • 03/13/2024
DedeCMS v5.7 was discovered to contain a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability via /dede/stepselect_main.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-28671 affects DedeCMS version 5.7 and represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw located in the /dede/stepselect_main.php file. This vulnerability allows authenticated attackers to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of legitimate users within the administrative interface of the content management system. The flaw stems from insufficient validation of request origins and lack of proper anti-CSRF token implementation in the affected endpoint, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on this CMS version.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability exploits the absence of anti-CSRF protection mechanisms in the stepselect_main.php script which handles certain administrative operations. When an authenticated administrator visits a malicious website or clicks on a crafted link, the vulnerability enables the execution of unauthorized administrative actions without proper user consent or verification. The flaw specifically impacts the CMS's administrative interface where users can modify system configurations, manage content, or perform other privileged operations. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-352, which defines Cross-Site Request Forgery as a weakness where a web application fails to prevent unauthorized actions from being performed by authenticated users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation as it can enable attackers to gain persistent access to administrative functions within the CMS. An attacker could potentially escalate privileges, modify website content, install malicious code, or even compromise the entire web server if proper security controls are not in place. The vulnerability affects the integrity and availability of the content management system, as unauthorized modifications could lead to service disruption or data corruption. Organizations using DedeCMS v5.7 are particularly at risk since this version may not include the latest security patches or CSRF protection mechanisms that would normally prevent such attacks.
Security mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of the affected DedeCMS version to address the CSRF vulnerability in stepselect_main.php. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as mandatory CSRF tokens for all administrative actions, proper origin validation, and enhanced session management practices. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and regular security audits can help detect and prevent similar vulnerabilities. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1548.003 for bypassing security controls and T1071.004 for application layer protocols, highlighting the need for comprehensive defensive measures. Administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls to monitor and block suspicious requests targeting the vulnerable endpoint. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify potential CSRF vulnerabilities in other parts of the application. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date CMS versions and implementing proper security controls to protect against unauthorized administrative access.