CVE-2026-116623 in Simple Content Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 10/27/2026
A vulnerability was detected in code-projects Simple Content Management System 1.0. Impacted is an unknown function of the file /web/admin/welcome.php of the component Admin Interface. The manipulation of the argument addnews results in missing authorization. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploit is now public and may be used.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2026
The vulnerability identified within code-projects Simple Content Management System version 1.0 represents a critical failure in access control mechanisms, specifically located within the administrative interface component found at /web/admin/welcome.php. This flaw centers on the handling of the addnews argument, which allows an attacker to bypass authentication requirements entirely. In a properly secured web application, any action that modifies content or performs privileged operations must be preceded by strict verification of user credentials and session validity. However, in this instance, the system fails to enforce these checks when processing requests associated with the addnews parameter. This omission creates a direct pathway for unauthorized users to execute administrative functions without possessing valid login credentials, effectively rendering the authentication layer obsolete for specific high-impact operations.
From a technical perspective, this issue is classified as an Authorization Bypass through User Control of Key Parameter or more broadly as Broken Access Control. The root cause lies in the server-side logic that processes incoming HTTP requests to the welcome.php endpoint. Instead of validating whether the current session belongs to an authenticated administrator before executing the news addition routine, the application proceeds with the operation based solely on the presence and content of the addnews argument. This design flaw aligns closely with CWE-284, which describes Improper Access Control where insufficient restrictions are applied to unauthorized actions. Furthermore, this vulnerability facilitates Remote Code Execution or Data Manipulation depending on what the underlying function does with the input data, often leading to full system compromise if the CMS allows file uploads or script injection through news items.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its remote exploitability and public availability. Attackers can launch automated attacks from any location over the network without prior authentication. Since the exploit code is publicly available, even attackers with minimal technical expertise can leverage existing tools to compromise the system. The consequences include unauthorized modification or deletion of website content, defacement of the public-facing site, insertion of malicious scripts for cross-site scripting campaigns against visitors, and potential escalation to server-level access if the CMS interacts insecurely with the underlying operating system. For organizations relying on this legacy software, such a breach can result in significant reputational damage, loss of data integrity, and regulatory non-compliance depending on the nature of the stored information.
Mitigation strategies must address both immediate remediation and long-term security posture improvements. The most effective solution is to upgrade or replace the vulnerable Simple Content Management System with a modern, actively maintained platform that adheres to current security standards such as OWASP Top 10 guidelines for access control. If upgrading is not immediately feasible, administrators should implement strict input validation on all parameters passed to administrative endpoints and enforce session-based authorization checks before processing any sensitive operations like adding news items. Additionally, deploying a Web Application Firewall can help mitigate exploitation by blocking known exploit patterns associated with the addnews parameter until a permanent fix is applied. Regular security audits and penetration testing are recommended to identify similar access control weaknesses in other parts of the application architecture.