CVE-2024-7657 in Gila
Summary
by MITRE • 08/12/2024
A vulnerability classified as problematic was found in Gila CMS 1.10.9. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the file /cm/update_rows/page?id=2 of the component HTTP POST Request Handler. The manipulation of the argument content leads to cross site scripting. The attack can be initiated remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. 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 • 03/15/2025
This vulnerability in Gila CMS 1.10.9 represents a critical cross site scripting flaw that resides within the HTTP POST request handler component. The specific attack vector involves manipulation of the content argument within the /cm/update_rows/page?id=2 endpoint, which allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into the application's response. The vulnerability's classification as problematic indicates significant security implications that could compromise user sessions and data integrity. The fact that this vulnerability affects the core content management functionality makes it particularly dangerous as it could enable attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of any authenticated user's browser.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a remote attack scenario where an attacker can craft malicious HTTP POST requests to the vulnerable endpoint. When the application processes the manipulated content argument, it fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before rendering it in the web response, creating an XSS vector that can be leveraged by attackers to steal cookies, session tokens, or perform actions on behalf of users. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross site scripting flaws in web applications. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that the vulnerability has been publicly disclosed and is known to be exploitable, meaning that threat actors can readily implement this attack without requiring advanced technical skills.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable more sophisticated attacks within the context of the compromised CMS environment. An attacker could potentially use the XSS flaw to escalate privileges, access administrative functions, or redirect users to malicious sites. The vulnerability's presence in the update_rows/page endpoint suggests that it could affect content management operations, potentially allowing attackers to modify or delete content, alter user permissions, or manipulate the CMS's core functionality. This risk is compounded by the lack of vendor response to early disclosure attempts, indicating that the affected version may not receive any security patches or updates, leaving systems permanently vulnerable.
Organizations utilizing Gila CMS 1.10.9 should immediately implement defensive measures including input validation and output encoding to prevent malicious content from being processed. The recommended mitigations include implementing proper content security policies, sanitizing all user inputs before processing, and applying rate limiting to POST request handlers. Security professionals should consider deploying web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious request patterns targeting this specific endpoint. Additionally, implementing strict access controls and monitoring for unusual activity around the update_rows/page functionality can help detect exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining current software versions and having robust security disclosure processes in place, as the lack of vendor response leaves organizations without official remediation options. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a web application attack vector under the T1203 technique for exploitation of web applications, emphasizing the need for comprehensive web security controls to protect against such remote code execution scenarios.