CVE-2023-31045 : What You Need to Know

A stored Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Text Editors and Formats in Backdrop CMS before version 1.24.2 allows remote attackers to inject malicious web script or HTML via the name parameter when editing content. The security relevance of this issue has been disputed by the vendor.

Understanding CVE-2023-31045

This section provides detailed insights into the CVE-2023-31045 vulnerability found in Backdrop CMS.

What is CVE-2023-31045?

The CVE-2023-31045 is a stored Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability present in Text Editors and Formats in Backdrop CMS versions before 1.24.2. It enables attackers to inject harmful web script or HTML through the name parameter, which gets executed when a user with admin privileges selects a specific text formatting option.

The Impact of CVE-2023-31045

The impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary script or HTML within the context of user sessions with admin permissions. This could lead to various malicious activities like data theft, unauthorized access, and website defacement.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-31045

This section delves into the technical aspects of CVE-2023-31045.

Vulnerability Description

The stored XSS vulnerability in Backdrop CMS allows attackers to exploit the name parameter in Text Editors and Formats, leading to script or HTML injection during content editing by admins.

Affected Systems and Versions

All versions of Backdrop CMS before 1.24.2 are affected by this vulnerability. Users operating on these versions are at risk of exploitation.

Exploitation Mechanism

Remote attackers can inject malicious web script or HTML by manipulating the name parameter, triggering the execution of the stored XSS payload when a targeted admin user selects a compromised text formatting option.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section outlines the steps to mitigate and prevent the CVE-2023-31045 vulnerability in Backdrop CMS.

Immediate Steps to Take

Administrators are advised to update their Backdrop CMS installations to version 1.24.2 or later to eliminate the vulnerability. Additionally, restrict admin privileges to trusted users to minimize the impact of potential attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement web security best practices such as input validation, output encoding, and secure coding techniques to reduce the risk of XSS vulnerabilities in CMS platforms like Backdrop.

Patching and Updates

Regularly monitor for security updates and patches released by Backdrop CMS. Keep the platform and its components up to date to ensure protection against known vulnerabilities.