CVE-2018-6182 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

This CVE involves vulnerabilities in Mahara versions prior to 16.10.9, 17.04.7, and 17.10.4 related to handling invalid input after bypassing TinyMCE through POST requests.

Understanding CVE-2018-6182

What is CVE-2018-6182?

Mahara versions before specified releases are susceptible to malicious input manipulation when TinyMCE is bypassed, potentially leading to server compromise.

The Impact of CVE-2018-6182

The vulnerability allows attackers to craft and send malicious POST data packets to the server, exploiting the lack of input sanitization.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-6182

Vulnerability Description

Mahara versions before 16.10.9, 17.04.7, and 17.10.4 are prone to bad input handling after bypassing TinyMCE through POST requests.

Affected Systems and Versions

Mahara versions prior to 16.10.9, 17.04.7, and 17.10.4

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can create malicious POST data packets to exploit the vulnerability.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade Mahara to versions 16.10.9, 17.04.7, or 17.10.4 to mitigate the vulnerability.
Implement input sanitization on the server/PHP side to prevent malicious input.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update Mahara to the latest versions to patch security vulnerabilities.
Train developers on secure coding practices to prevent similar issues.
Monitor and analyze POST requests for suspicious activities.
Consider implementing web application firewalls for added protection.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and apply patches promptly to secure the system.