CVE-2018-16416 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

FUEL CMS 1.4 framework is affected by a cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability that allows remote attackers to change the administrator's password.

Understanding CVE-2018-16416

This CVE identifies a critical security issue within the FUEL CMS 1.4 framework.

What is CVE-2018-16416?

An inherent vulnerability known as cross-site request forgery (CSRF) exists within the FUEL CMS 1.4 framework, specifically in the my_profile/edit?inline= feature. This vulnerability enables malicious parties located remotely to modify the password of the administrator.

The Impact of CVE-2018-16416

Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability to change the administrator's password, potentially gaining unauthorized access to the system.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-16416

This section delves into the technical aspects of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The CSRF vulnerability in my_profile/edit?inline= in FUEL CMS 1.4 allows remote attackers to change the administrator's password.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: FUEL CMS 1.4
Vendor: N/A
Affected Version: N/A

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can craft malicious requests to the my_profile/edit?inline= feature, tricking administrators into unknowingly changing their passwords.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from this vulnerability requires immediate action and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable the my_profile/edit?inline= feature if not essential for operations.
Monitor administrator account activities for unauthorized password changes.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement CSRF tokens to validate requests and prevent unauthorized actions.
Regularly update and patch the FUEL CMS framework to address security vulnerabilities.
Educate administrators on recognizing and avoiding CSRF attacks.
Conduct security audits to identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities.
Consider implementing multi-factor authentication for enhanced security.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and patches released by FUEL CMS to address the CSRF vulnerability.