CVE-2018-7491 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability was discovered in PrestaShop versions up to 1.7.2.5, potentially leading to unauthorized state changes for users and administrators due to a lack of security headers.

Understanding CVE-2018-7491

What is CVE-2018-7491?

In PrestaShop versions up to 1.7.2.5, a vulnerability exists in the generateHtaccess function in the classes/Tools.php file, leaving the system open to UI-Redressing/Clickjacking attacks.

The Impact of CVE-2018-7491

This vulnerability could allow malicious actors to perform unauthorized state changes for both users and administrators, compromising the integrity and security of the system.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-7491

Vulnerability Description

The generateHtaccess function in PrestaShop does not define X-Frame-Options or 'Content-Security-Policy "frame-ancestors' values, making it susceptible to UI-Redressing/Clickjacking attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected versions: up to 1.7.2.5

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to perform UI-Redressing/Clickjacking attacks, potentially leading to unauthorized state changes.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update PrestaShop to a version that includes the necessary security headers.
Implement X-Frame-Options and 'Content-Security-Policy "frame-ancestors' values to mitigate UI-Redressing/Clickjacking risks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and update web application security settings.
Conduct security assessments to identify and address vulnerabilities proactively.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security patches and updates released by PrestaShop to address this vulnerability.