CVE-2024-4591 in DedeCMS
Summary
by MITRE • 05/07/2024
A vulnerability classified as problematic has been found in DedeCMS 5.7. This affects an unknown part of the file /src/dede/sys_group_add.php. The manipulation leads to cross-site request forgery. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The identifier VDB-263313 was assigned to this vulnerability. NOTE: The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/31/2025
This vulnerability in DedeCMS 5.7 represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw located within the /src/dede/sys_group_add.php file, classified under the CWE-352 category for Cross-Site Request Forgery. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to manipulate the system through forged requests that appear to originate from legitimate users with appropriate privileges. The flaw exists in the way the application handles group creation requests without proper validation of the request source, enabling attackers to craft malicious requests that can be executed by authenticated users when they visit compromised web pages or click on malicious links.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the absence of anti-CSRF tokens or proper request origin verification within the group addition functionality. When administrators or authorized users navigate to pages that include embedded malicious content or visit compromised websites, the attacker can trigger unauthorized group creation operations through the vulnerable endpoint. This occurs because the application does not validate that requests are genuinely initiated by the authenticated user through the legitimate interface rather than being submitted through malicious third-party sites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows attackers to escalate privileges and potentially gain unauthorized administrative access to the content management system. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to create new user groups with elevated permissions, modify existing group configurations, or establish backdoor access points within the system. The remote exploit capability means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or direct network connectivity to the target server, as they can leverage social engineering techniques to deliver malicious payloads through phishing campaigns or compromised websites.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1548.003 for Abuse of Functionality, where attackers leverage legitimate administrative functions to perform unauthorized operations. The lack of vendor response to early disclosure attempts is particularly concerning as it suggests potential delays in patch development or security awareness, leaving users exposed to potential exploitation. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling unnecessary administrative functions, implementing proper CSRF token validation, and monitoring for unauthorized group creation activities. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and request origin verification in web applications, particularly those handling administrative functions. Given that the exploit has been publicly disclosed, organizations running DedeCMS 5.7 should prioritize patching or implementing compensating controls to prevent unauthorized group creation operations that could compromise system integrity and user data.