CVE-2022-41471 is a vulnerability identified in the 74cmsSE software version 3.12.0, which allows authenticated attackers with low-level privileges to arbitrarily modify the rights and credentials of the Super Administrator account. This vulnerability does not require user interaction and can be exploited remotely over the network (AV:N). The attack complexity is low (AC:L), and the attacker needs to have some level of privileges (PR:L), but no additional user interaction is necessary (UI:N). The scope of the vulnerability is unchanged (S:U), meaning the impact is confined to the vulnerable component. The vulnerability impacts the integrity of the system (I:H) but does not affect confidentiality (C:N) or availability (A:N). Essentially, an attacker who has gained limited authenticated access to the system can escalate their privileges by altering the Super Administrator's credentials and permissions, potentially gaining full control over the system. This type of privilege escalation can lead to unauthorized administrative actions, including the ability to modify configurations, access sensitive data, and deploy further malicious activities within the affected environment. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.5, categorizing it as a medium severity vulnerability. No known exploits in the wild have been reported, and no patches or vendor advisories are currently linked to this CVE, which may indicate a need for organizations to implement compensating controls until an official fix is available.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant, particularly for those using 74cmsSE version 3.12.0 in their web or content management infrastructure. Successful exploitation allows attackers with limited access to escalate privileges to the highest administrative level, potentially compromising the entire system. This can lead to unauthorized data manipulation, disruption of services, and exposure of sensitive information. Given the integrity impact, attackers could alter system configurations or user permissions, undermining trust and operational stability. Organizations in sectors with strict regulatory requirements, such as finance, healthcare, and government, may face compliance violations if such privilege escalations lead to data breaches or unauthorized access. Additionally, the lack of availability impact means systems remain operational but under attacker control, which can be more insidious and harder to detect. The medium severity rating suggests that while the vulnerability is serious, exploitation requires some level of authenticated access, which may limit exposure to external attackers but still poses a risk from insider threats or compromised accounts.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should first identify any deployments of 74cmsSE version 3.12.0 within their environment. Since no official patches are currently linked, organizations should implement strict access controls to limit authenticated user privileges, ensuring that low-level users cannot access or modify administrative credentials. Monitoring and logging of administrative account changes should be enhanced to detect unauthorized privilege escalations promptly. Employing multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all administrative accounts can reduce the risk of credential compromise. Network segmentation and the principle of least privilege should be enforced to restrict access to critical management interfaces. Additionally, organizations should consider deploying web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting privilege escalation attempts. Regular security audits and penetration testing focused on authentication and authorization mechanisms can help identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. Finally, organizations should stay alert for vendor updates or patches addressing this issue and apply them promptly once available.