CVE-2020-17451 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

flatCore before 1.5.7 allows XSS by an admin via specific parameters, posing a security risk.

Understanding CVE-2020-17451

This CVE identifies a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in flatCore CMS.

What is CVE-2020-17451?

flatCore before version 1.5.7 is susceptible to XSS attacks through certain admin parameters, enabling malicious code injection.

The Impact of CVE-2020-17451

The vulnerability allows an attacker to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of an admin user, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or data theft.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-17451

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

flatCore CMS before 1.5.7 is vulnerable to XSS via the acp/acp.php page_linkname, page_title, page_content, page_extracontent, prefs_pagename, prefs_pagetitle, or prefs_pagesubtitle parameters.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: flatCore
Vendor: N/A
Versions affected: All versions before 1.5.7

Exploitation Mechanism

The XSS exploit occurs when an admin interacts with specific parameters in the flatCore CMS, allowing the injection of malicious scripts.

Mitigation and Prevention

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

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade flatCore CMS to version 1.5.7 or the latest release.
Implement input validation and output encoding to mitigate XSS risks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch CMS software to address security flaws.
Educate administrators on secure coding practices to prevent XSS vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches promptly to ensure the CMS is protected against known vulnerabilities.