Source: cna@vuldb.com
A flaw has been found in EmpireSoft EmpireCMS up to 8.0. This issue affects the function egetip of the file e/class/connect.php of the component IP Address Handler. This manipulation causes protection mechanism failure. The attack may be initiated remotely. The exploit has been published and may be used. The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.
EmpireCMS versions up to 8.0 are vulnerable to a remote protection mechanism failure due to a flaw in the egetip function within e/class/connect.php. This allows attackers to bypass security measures and potentially gain unauthorized access. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable and a public exploit is available, posing a significant risk to affected systems.
Step 1: Target Identification: The attacker identifies a vulnerable EmpireCMS installation (version 8.0 or below).
Step 2: Exploit Trigger: The attacker crafts a malicious request designed to exploit the egetip function.
Step 3: Protection Mechanism Bypass: The crafted request bypasses the intended security measures, such as IP address filtering or access controls.
Step 4: Unauthorized Access/Action: The attacker leverages the bypassed protection to perform unauthorized actions, potentially including data exfiltration, privilege escalation, or system compromise.
The vulnerability lies within the egetip function in e/class/connect.php. This function is responsible for handling IP address information. The specific flaw involves a failure in the protection mechanism, likely related to how the function validates or processes IP addresses. This could manifest as a bypass of IP-based access controls, rate limiting, or other security features designed to prevent malicious activity. The lack of vendor response suggests a potential lack of security awareness or resources, exacerbating the risk. The root cause is likely an improper implementation of IP address handling, leading to a vulnerability that allows attackers to circumvent security measures.
While no specific APTs are directly linked, the availability of a public exploit makes this vulnerability attractive to a wide range of attackers, including those seeking to establish initial access or conduct opportunistic attacks. The lack of vendor response and the ease of exploitation increase the likelihood of widespread exploitation. CISA KEV status is likely to be high if this vulnerability is actively exploited.
Network traffic analysis: Examine HTTP requests for suspicious patterns or payloads targeting the egetip function in e/class/connect.php. Look for unusual IP addresses or request headers.
Web server logs: Monitor web server access logs for unusual activity, such as repeated requests from the same IP address or requests containing malicious payloads.
Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS): Implement rules to detect and block known exploit attempts targeting this vulnerability. Look for signatures related to the published PoC.
File integrity monitoring: Monitor the integrity of e/class/connect.php for unauthorized modifications.
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM): Correlate events from various sources (web server logs, IDS/IPS alerts) to identify potential exploitation attempts.
Upgrade: Immediately upgrade to a patched version of EmpireCMS that addresses this vulnerability. Since the vendor has not responded, this may require finding a community patch or migrating to a different CMS.
Web Application Firewall (WAF): Implement a WAF to filter malicious traffic and block exploit attempts. Configure the WAF with rules specifically designed to protect against this vulnerability.
Input validation: Implement robust input validation on all user-supplied data, including IP addresses, to prevent malicious payloads from being injected.
Least privilege: Ensure that web server processes and user accounts have the minimum necessary privileges to perform their tasks.
Regular security audits: Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing to identify and address vulnerabilities.
Monitor and log: Implement comprehensive logging and monitoring to detect and respond to suspicious activity.