CVE-2018-18271 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

CMS Made Simple version 2.2.7 is vulnerable to an XSS exploit through the m1_extra parameter in the admin/moduleinterface.php file.

Understanding CVE-2018-18271

An XSS vulnerability in CMS Made Simple version 2.2.7 allows attackers to execute malicious scripts.

What is CVE-2018-18271?

This CVE identifies a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in CMS Made Simple version 2.2.7, specifically in the "Content-->News-->Add Article" action.

The Impact of CVE-2018-18271

The vulnerability can be exploited by attackers to inject and execute malicious scripts, potentially leading to unauthorized actions on the affected system.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-18271

CMS Made Simple version 2.2.7 is susceptible to XSS attacks due to inadequate input validation.

Vulnerability Description

The presence of the m1_extra parameter in the admin/moduleinterface.php file allows attackers to inject malicious scripts.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected System: CMS Made Simple version 2.2.7
Affected Parameter: m1_extra

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious scripts via the m1_extra parameter in the "Content-->News-->Add Article" action.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2018-18271, follow these steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update CMS Made Simple to a non-vulnerable version.
Implement input validation to sanitize user inputs.
Monitor and filter user-generated content for malicious scripts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch CMS Made Simple to the latest version.
Educate users on safe browsing practices and the risks of XSS attacks.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches provided by CMS Made Simple to address the XSS vulnerability.