CVE-2024-42631 is a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability identified in FrogCMS version 0.9.5, specifically targeting the administrative layout editing interface at /admin/?/layout/edit/1. CSRF vulnerabilities allow attackers to induce authenticated users, typically administrators, to perform unwanted actions on a web application without their consent. In this case, an attacker can craft a malicious web page or link that, when visited by an authenticated FrogCMS admin, triggers unauthorized changes to the website layout or configuration. The vulnerability does not require the attacker to have prior authentication or elevated privileges, but it does require the victim to be logged in and interact with the malicious content (user interaction). The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) indicates network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required, unchanged scope, and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. This means the attacker can remotely exploit the vulnerability over the network with minimal effort, causing severe damage including data disclosure, unauthorized modification, and potential site downtime. No patches or fixes have been published at the time of disclosure, and no exploits have been observed in the wild, but the high severity score demands immediate attention from administrators. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-352, which covers CSRF issues. FrogCMS is a lightweight content management system used by various small to medium organizations, making it a potential target for attackers aiming to compromise web infrastructure.

The impact of this CSRF vulnerability is significant for organizations using FrogCMS 0.9.5. Successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized administrative actions such as modifying website layouts, injecting malicious content, or altering configurations, which compromises the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected web application. This can result in data breaches, defacement, loss of user trust, and potential downtime. Since the vulnerability affects the administrative interface, attackers gaining control could pivot to further attacks within the network or use the compromised site to distribute malware or phishing content. The ease of exploitation combined with the high impact makes this a critical risk for organizations relying on FrogCMS for their web presence, especially those handling sensitive or business-critical information.

Organizations should immediately implement the following mitigations: 1) Restrict access to the /admin interface by IP whitelisting or VPN to limit exposure to trusted users only. 2) Employ anti-CSRF tokens in all state-changing requests within FrogCMS, if possible by custom patching or configuration. 3) Educate administrators to avoid clicking on suspicious links or visiting untrusted websites while logged into the CMS. 4) Monitor administrative logs for unusual or unauthorized changes to layouts or configurations. 5) If feasible, isolate the CMS environment and apply web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect and block CSRF attack patterns. 6) Regularly check for official patches or updates from FrogCMS and apply them promptly once available. 7) Consider migrating to alternative CMS platforms with active security support if FrogCMS updates are not forthcoming. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on access control, user behavior, and proactive monitoring tailored to this specific vulnerability.