CVE-2024-28684 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/module_main.php
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/15/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-28684 affects DedeCMS version 5.7 and represents a critical Cross-Site Request Forgery flaw located within the /dede/module_main.php component. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery conditions where an attacker can trick authenticated users into executing unwanted actions on a web application. The flaw exists in the administrative interface of the content management system, making it particularly dangerous as it could allow unauthorized modifications to the CMS configuration or functionality.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the absence of proper anti-CSRF tokens or validation mechanisms within the module_main.php script. When administrators access the administrative panel to manage modules, the application fails to verify that requests originate from legitimate administrative sessions rather than maliciously crafted requests. This absence of token validation creates a window where an attacker could construct a malicious webpage or email attachment that, when visited by an authenticated administrator, automatically executes unauthorized administrative actions without the user's knowledge or consent.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation as it provides attackers with potential access to the administrative control plane of the CMS. An attacker could leverage this flaw to install malicious modules, modify existing functionality, change user permissions, or even potentially escalate privileges within the system. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the administrative level, meaning successful exploitation could result in complete compromise of the website's backend infrastructure. The attack vector typically involves social engineering tactics where administrators are tricked into visiting malicious sites or opening compromised email attachments, making it difficult to detect and prevent through traditional network monitoring.
Mitigation strategies for this CSRF vulnerability should focus on implementing proper token validation mechanisms throughout the administrative interfaces of DedeCMS. Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided patches or updates that address this specific flaw, which typically involve adding unique anti-CSRF tokens to all administrative forms and validating these tokens upon submission. Network administrators should also implement additional security controls such as restricting administrative access to specific IP ranges, implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts, and conducting regular security audits of administrative interfaces. The remediation process should align with ATT&CK framework tactic TA0001 (Initial Access) and technique T1566 (Phishing for Information) as the vulnerability exploits user trust and administrative privileges rather than direct system exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious administrative requests and establish monitoring protocols to identify unusual administrative activities that could indicate exploitation attempts.