CVE-2024-4587 in DedeCMS
Summary
by MITRE • 05/07/2024
A vulnerability was found in DedeCMS 5.7 and classified as problematic. This issue affects some unknown processing of the file /src/dede/tpl.php. The manipulation leads to cross-site request forgery. The attack may be initiated remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The identifier VDB-263309 was 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 • 03/31/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-4587 represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within DedeCMS 5.7, a widely used content management system that powers numerous websites globally. This weakness resides in the file processing logic of /src/dede/tpl.php, which serves as a template management component within the system's administrative interface. The vulnerability's classification as problematic indicates that it poses significant security risks to websites utilizing this particular version of the CMS, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of administrative operations.
The technical nature of this flaw stems from inadequate validation and sanitization of user-supplied input within the template processing module. When administrators or authenticated users interact with the affected tpl.php file, the system fails to properly verify the authenticity of incoming requests, creating an avenue for malicious actors to craft forged requests that appear legitimate to the CMS. This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration category of CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities, where the weakness allows attackers to perform actions on behalf of authenticated users without their knowledge or consent. The attack vector is remotely exploitable, meaning that threat actors can initiate malicious activities from external systems without requiring physical access to the target server or network infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or modification, as it can enable attackers to perform administrative functions within the compromised CMS instance. This includes but is not limited to creating new administrator accounts, modifying existing content, deleting critical files, or even installing backdoors for persistent access. The fact that the exploit has been publicly disclosed and is actively being used in the wild significantly increases the risk to affected organizations, as it removes the element of surprise that typically protects systems from newly discovered vulnerabilities. Security researchers have noted that the vulnerability's exploitation can lead to complete system compromise, particularly when combined with other weaknesses or when the CMS is deployed in environments with insufficient network segmentation or monitoring controls.
Organizations utilizing DedeCMS 5.7 should immediately implement mitigations to protect their systems from potential exploitation. The most effective immediate solution involves applying the vendor's official security patch or upgrade to a supported version of DedeCMS that addresses this specific vulnerability. When patching is not immediately feasible, administrators should implement additional protective measures such as implementing proper CSRF tokens in all administrative forms, restricting administrative access to trusted IP addresses, and deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious request patterns. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework as a privilege escalation technique through web application attacks highlights the need for comprehensive security monitoring and incident response procedures. Organizations should also consider conducting thorough security assessments of their CMS installations to identify any additional vulnerabilities that may exist within their web application infrastructure, as the presence of one vulnerability often indicates potential for additional security weaknesses. The lack of vendor response to early disclosure attempts underscores the importance of proactive security measures and the necessity for organizations to maintain robust internal security protocols rather than relying solely on vendor patch management timelines.