Source: cve@mitre.org
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in admBase/login.page in the Admin module in JForum allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that change the user group permissions of arbitrary users via a groupsSave action.
JForum's Admin module is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF), allowing attackers to remotely hijack administrator sessions. This vulnerability enables attackers to modify user group permissions, potentially granting themselves or other users elevated privileges, leading to complete system compromise. Exploitation requires no user interaction beyond the administrator visiting a malicious website.
Step 1: Victim Login: An administrator logs into the JForum instance.
Step 2: Attacker Preparation: The attacker crafts a malicious HTML page or JavaScript code containing a hidden form or a series of JavaScript requests. This form/script targets the groupsSave action within the JForum Admin module.
Step 3: Payload Delivery: The attacker lures the administrator to visit the malicious website (e.g., via phishing, social engineering, or drive-by download).
Step 4: Request Execution: The malicious HTML form or JavaScript code automatically submits a request to the JForum instance on behalf of the administrator. This request includes parameters to modify user group permissions.
Step 5: Permission Modification: Because of the lack of CSRF protection, the JForum server processes the request as if it originated from the administrator. The user group permissions are modified according to the attacker's crafted request, potentially granting the attacker administrative access or other elevated privileges.
Step 6: System Compromise: The attacker, now with elevated privileges, can further compromise the system, potentially leading to data breaches, system control, or denial of service.
The vulnerability stems from a lack of proper CSRF protection in the admBase/login.page within the Admin module of JForum. Specifically, the groupsSave action fails to validate the origin of the request, allowing an attacker to craft a malicious request that, when executed by an authenticated administrator, modifies user group memberships. The core flaw lies in the absence of a CSRF token or other mechanism to verify the request's authenticity, making it susceptible to exploitation via a crafted HTML form or JavaScript code embedded on a malicious website. This allows an attacker to manipulate the permissions of other users, including potentially escalating their own privileges to administrator level.
While no specific APTs are directly linked to this CVE, the nature of the vulnerability makes it attractive to various threat actors seeking to gain administrative access. This is a common attack vector used by various groups, and the ease of exploitation makes it a low-hanging fruit. Not listed on CISA KEV.
Monitor web server logs for suspicious POST requests to admBase/login.page with the groupsSave action, especially those originating from unexpected IP addresses or user agents.
Analyze network traffic for unusual HTTP POST requests to the JForum instance, looking for requests that modify user group permissions.
Implement a web application firewall (WAF) to detect and block CSRF attempts by inspecting request headers and payloads.
Monitor for changes in user group membership, especially unexpected additions or modifications to administrator privileges.
Use intrusion detection systems (IDS) with rules tailored to detect CSRF attacks against JForum.
Upgrade to a patched version of JForum that addresses the CSRF vulnerability. Consult the vendor's security advisories for specific patch information.
Implement CSRF protection mechanisms in the JForum application, such as CSRF tokens, to validate the origin of requests.
Configure the web server to enforce the use of HTTPS to protect against man-in-the-middle attacks.
Educate administrators about the risks of CSRF and phishing attacks, and advise them to avoid clicking on suspicious links or visiting untrusted websites.
Regularly audit user permissions and group memberships to identify and remediate any unauthorized changes.
Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to filter malicious requests.