CVE-2024-40331 identifies a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in idccms version 1.35, specifically through the /admin/dbBakMySQL_deal.php?mudi=backup endpoint. CSRF vulnerabilities occur when an attacker tricks an authenticated user into submitting a forged request, causing the server to perform unintended actions. In this case, the vulnerability allows an attacker to initiate unauthorized database backup operations without requiring authentication or elevated privileges, relying solely on the victim's authenticated session and user interaction (e.g., clicking a malicious link). The vulnerability is classified under CWE-352, indicating improper validation of requests to prevent CSRF attacks. The CVSS 3.1 score of 8.8 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) highlights that the attack can be launched remotely over the network with low attack complexity, no privileges required, but user interaction is necessary. The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high because unauthorized database backups can expose sensitive data, corrupt or manipulate database contents, or disrupt service availability. No patches or official fixes are currently linked, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild, but the vulnerability's nature and severity warrant immediate attention. The vulnerability affects all deployments running idccms v1.35, and the lack of version specificity suggests the issue may be present in all 1.35 installations. The attack vector is web-based, targeting administrative interfaces, which are often exposed internally or via VPNs, but may also be accessible externally in some deployments.

The potential impact of CVE-2024-40331 is significant for organizations using idccms 1.35. Successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized database backups, which may expose sensitive data including user information, credentials, or proprietary content, thereby compromising confidentiality. Attackers could also manipulate or corrupt backup processes, affecting data integrity and potentially leading to data loss or restoration of compromised data. Availability may be impacted if backup operations are abused to overload the system or disrupt normal administrative functions. Since the vulnerability requires user interaction but no privileges, social engineering attacks targeting administrators are a realistic threat. Organizations relying on idccms for content management or database administration face risks of data breaches, compliance violations, and operational disruptions. The absence of known exploits currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as exploit code could be developed rapidly given the low complexity of the attack. The vulnerability could be leveraged as a foothold for further attacks within the network if attackers gain access to sensitive backups or administrative functions.

To mitigate CVE-2024-40331, organizations should implement the following specific measures: 1) Apply any available patches or updates from the idccms vendor as soon as they are released. 2) If patches are not available, implement anti-CSRF tokens on all administrative endpoints, especially those handling critical operations like database backups, to ensure requests are legitimate. 3) Restrict access to the /admin/dbBakMySQL_deal.php endpoint by IP whitelisting or VPN-only access to reduce exposure. 4) Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious CSRF attempts targeting the backup endpoint. 5) Educate administrators about the risks of clicking unknown links or visiting untrusted websites while logged into the CMS. 6) Monitor logs and alerts for unusual backup operations or access patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts early. 7) Consider implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) for administrative access to add an additional security layer. 8) Regularly review and audit administrative privileges and session management to minimize the risk of session hijacking or misuse. These targeted mitigations go beyond generic advice by focusing on the specific vulnerable endpoint and attack vector.