CVE-2020-26623 is a SQL Injection vulnerability identified in Gila CMS version 1.15.4 and earlier. This vulnerability allows a remote attacker, who has already authenticated with high privileges, to execute arbitrary web scripts by manipulating the 'Area' parameter located under the Administration > Widget tab. The vulnerability arises due to improper sanitization of user input in the SQL queries, specifically related to the 'Area' parameter, which leads to injection of malicious SQL code. Exploitation requires the attacker to have valid credentials with administrative privileges, as the vulnerability is accessible only after login. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 3.8, indicating a low severity level, with the vector string AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N. This means the attack can be performed remotely over the network with low attack complexity, but requires high privileges and no user interaction. The impact is limited to partial confidentiality and integrity loss, with no effect on availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no official patches or vendor advisories are linked in the provided data. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command).

For European organizations using Gila CMS 1.15.4 or earlier, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to the confidentiality and integrity of the CMS data. Since exploitation requires administrative credentials, the threat is mitigated by strong access controls and credential management. However, if an attacker compromises an admin account, they could manipulate database queries to extract sensitive information or alter data within the CMS, potentially leading to data leakage or unauthorized content changes. This could affect websites relying on Gila CMS for content management, including corporate, governmental, or small business sites. The lack of availability impact means service disruption is unlikely. The relatively low CVSS score reflects the limited scope and prerequisites for exploitation, but organizations with weak credential policies or insufficient monitoring could face increased risk. Additionally, the absence of known exploits reduces immediate threat but does not eliminate future risk.

European organizations should implement the following specific mitigations: 1) Upgrade Gila CMS to the latest version beyond 1.15.4 where this vulnerability is fixed, or apply any available patches if released. 2) Enforce strong administrative credential policies, including multi-factor authentication (MFA) to reduce the risk of credential compromise. 3) Restrict administrative access by IP whitelisting or VPN-only access to the CMS backend to limit exposure. 4) Conduct regular security audits and code reviews of CMS customizations to detect injection flaws. 5) Implement Web Application Firewalls (WAF) with SQL injection detection rules tailored to the CMS environment to block malicious payloads targeting the 'Area' parameter. 6) Monitor CMS logs for unusual administrative activities or SQL errors indicative of attempted exploitation. 7) Educate administrators on secure usage practices and the importance of safeguarding credentials. These targeted measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on access control hardening, monitoring, and specific protective controls around the vulnerable parameter and administrative interface.