Rite CMS 3., a popular content management system, has been found to have a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in its Global Content Blocks component within the Administration Menu. The vulnerability, assigned as CVE-2023-43879, allows malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary code via a crafted payload. In this post, we will examine the vulnerability, demonstrate how an attacker could exploit it, and discuss possible mitigation strategies.
Vulnerability Details
An XSS vulnerability arises when an attacker can inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. In the case of CVE-2023-43879, the vulnerability is present in the Global Content Blocks component of Rite CMS 3.'s Administration Menu. This allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code via a crafted payload that can be injected into the content area.
The root cause of this vulnerability is improper sanitization of user input. When an administrator inserts HTML content into the Global Content Blocks, Rite CMS 3. does not properly validate or sanitize the input, thereby allowing an attacker to inject malicious code, which could then be executed when a user views or interacts with the affected content.
Exploit
To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker can craft a payload containing the malicious code they wish to execute. Below is a simple example of a payload that causes a JavaScript alert to pop-up when the content is viewed:
<script>alert('XSS');</script>
An attacker could then insert this payload into one of the Global Content Blocks in the Administration Menu. When a user views a page containing the affected content block, the browser will execute the malicious code, leading to the display of a JavaScript alert.
Once the payload is executed, the attacker can perform various malicious activities, including stealing sensitive data (such as login credentials), defacing the website, or even taking full control of the affected site by escalating the user's privileges.
For more information about this vulnerability, you can check the following sources
1. CVE-2023-43879 Official Link
2. RiteCMS Official Website
3. OWASP: Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Explained
Mitigation
To mitigate this vulnerability, the Rite CMS development team should implement proper input validation and sanitization when handling user input for the Global Content Blocks. This can be achieved by employing a secure coding practice, such as output encoding and input validation.
Additionally, administrators using Rite CMS 3. should be aware of this vulnerability and apply any available patches or updates provided by the development team.
Conclusion
CVE-2023-43879 is a critical XSS vulnerability found in Rite CMS 3., allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted payload inserted into the Global Content Blocks in the Administration Menu. Proper input validation and sanitization are necessary to mitigate this vulnerability and prevent further exploitation. Administrators using Rite CMS 3. should stay informed about any updates and patches provided by the Rite CMS development team to address this issue.
Timeline
Published on: 09/28/2023 15:15:12 UTC
Last modified on: 09/29/2023 16:35:38 UTC