CVE-2018-18738 : Security Advisory and Response

A vulnerability in SEMCMS 3.4 allows for XSS attacks through the manipulation of the category_key parameter.

Understanding CVE-2018-18738

This CVE entry describes a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in SEMCMS 3.4, specifically in the admin/SEMCMS_Categories.php file.

What is CVE-2018-18738?

CVE-2018-18738 is an XSS issue discovered in SEMCMS 3.4, where attackers can exploit the category_key parameter with values pid=1 and lgid=1 to execute malicious scripts.

The Impact of CVE-2018-18738

This vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of a user's browser, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or data theft.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-18738

This section provides more in-depth technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The XSS vulnerability in SEMCMS 3.4 arises from improper input validation in the category_key parameter, enabling attackers to inject and execute malicious scripts.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected System: SEMCMS 3.4
Affected File: admin/SEMCMS_Categories.php
Affected Parameter: category_key
Versions: All versions of SEMCMS 3.4

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit the vulnerability by manipulating the category_key parameter with specific values (pid=1 and lgid=1) to inject and execute malicious scripts.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-18738 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by the vendor promptly.
Implement input validation mechanisms to sanitize user inputs and prevent XSS attacks.
Monitor and filter user inputs to detect and block malicious scripts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing to identify and address vulnerabilities.
Educate developers and administrators on secure coding practices to prevent similar issues in the future.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and patches released by SEMCMS.
Regularly update SEMCMS to the latest secure versions to mitigate known vulnerabilities.