CVE-2021-43154 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

CMS Made Simple 2.2.15 is affected by a Cross Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability when processing the Name field in an Add Category action in moduleinterface.php.

Understanding CVE-2021-43154

What is CVE-2021-43154?

This CVE identifies a Cross Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in CMS Made Simple 2.2.15 through the processing of the Name field during an Add Category action in moduleinterface.php.

The Impact of CVE-2021-43154

The vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data theft, or other malicious activities.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-43154

Vulnerability Description

The XSS vulnerability arises in CMS Made Simple 2.2.15 due to improper validation of user-supplied data, specifically in the Name field of an Add Category action in moduleinterface.php.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: CMS Made Simple 2.2.15
Vendor: Not applicable
Affected Version: Not applicable

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious scripts or code into the Name field during the Add Category action, allowing them to execute unauthorized actions on the affected system.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable the moduleinterface.php file if not utilized to prevent potential exploitation of the vulnerability.
Regularly monitor and sanitize user inputs to mitigate the risk of XSS attacks.
Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to reduce the impact of successful XSS attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify and remediate vulnerabilities.
Educate developers on secure coding practices to prevent XSS vulnerabilities in web applications.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches or updates released by CMS Made Simple to address the XSS vulnerability in version 2.2.15.