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attack-surface.md

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Attack Surface Analysis for octobercms/october

Attack Surface: 1. Vulnerable Plugins

  • Description: Third-party plugins can contain security vulnerabilities due to coding errors, lack of security awareness, or outdated dependencies.
  • October Contribution: OctoberCMS's plugin ecosystem relies on community contributions, and the core framework doesn't inherently guarantee plugin security. Users are responsible for selecting secure plugins.
  • Example: A plugin for e-commerce has an SQL injection vulnerability, allowing attackers to steal customer data or gain administrative access.
  • Impact: Data breaches, website defacement, Remote Code Execution (RCE), full website compromise.
  • Risk Severity: Critical
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Rigorous Plugin Auditing: Conduct thorough security audits of plugins before deployment and regularly thereafter.
    • Prioritize Reputable Plugins: Choose plugins from well-known and trusted developers with a history of security awareness.
    • Minimize Plugin Usage: Only install essential plugins to reduce the attack surface.
    • Continuous Plugin Updates: Keep all installed plugins updated to the latest versions to patch known vulnerabilities.
    • Security Scanning: Utilize security scanners to automatically detect known vulnerabilities in plugins.

Attack Surface: 2. Unmaintained Plugins with Known Vulnerabilities

  • Description: Plugins that are no longer actively maintained may contain known, unpatched vulnerabilities, making them easy targets for exploitation.
  • October Contribution: The OctoberCMS marketplace can host plugins that are abandoned, leaving users vulnerable if they continue to use them.
  • Example: An unmaintained blog plugin has a publicly disclosed Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerability. Websites using this plugin are easily compromised.
  • Impact: Remote Code Execution (RCE), full website compromise, data breaches, website defacement.
  • Risk Severity: Critical
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Identify and Replace: Proactively identify unmaintained plugins and replace them with actively maintained and secure alternatives.
    • Disable or Remove: If no secure alternative exists, disable or completely remove the unmaintained plugin to eliminate the vulnerability.
    • Vulnerability Monitoring: Actively monitor security advisories and vulnerability databases for known issues in installed plugins, especially unmaintained ones.
    • Consider Forking (Advanced): As a last resort, for critical functionality, consider forking and maintaining the plugin yourself to address security issues.

Attack Surface: 3. Unrestricted File Uploads via Plugins or Core Misconfiguration

  • Description: Vulnerable file upload functionality allows attackers to upload malicious files, potentially leading to Remote Code Execution.
  • October Contribution: OctoberCMS provides file upload capabilities. Misconfigurations in core settings or vulnerabilities in plugins handling file uploads can create unrestricted upload points.
  • Example: A plugin allows file uploads without proper validation. An attacker uploads a PHP web shell, gains access to the server, and compromises the entire application.
  • Impact: Remote Code Execution (RCE), full website compromise, data breaches, website defacement, server takeover.
  • Risk Severity: Critical
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Strict File Type Validation: Implement robust file type validation based on file content (magic numbers) and not just file extensions.
    • Secure File Storage: Store uploaded files outside the web root to prevent direct execution via web requests.
    • Disable Script Execution in Uploads: Configure the web server to prevent script execution in the upload directory (e.g., using .htaccess or web server configuration).
    • File Size Limits: Enforce reasonable file size limits to prevent denial-of-service and resource exhaustion attacks.
    • Regular Security Audits: Audit file upload functionalities in plugins and core configurations to ensure they are securely implemented.

Attack Surface: 4. Weak Backend Authentication leading to Admin Panel Compromise

  • Description: Using weak or default credentials, or lacking strong authentication mechanisms for the OctoberCMS backend, allows attackers to gain administrative access.
  • October Contribution: OctoberCMS's backend security relies on strong authentication. Weaknesses in password policies or lack of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) directly expose the backend.
  • Example: An administrator uses a weak password. Attackers brute-force the login page and gain access to the admin panel, taking full control of the website.
  • Impact: Full website compromise, data breaches, website defacement, complete administrative control for attackers.
  • Risk Severity: Critical
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Enforce Strong Passwords: Implement and enforce strong password policies for all administrator accounts (complexity, length, regular changes).
    • Mandatory Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Implement and enforce MFA for all backend administrator accounts.
    • Account Lockout and Rate Limiting: Implement account lockout mechanisms and rate limiting on login attempts to prevent brute-force attacks.
    • Regular Security Audits: Regularly audit backend authentication configurations and practices to ensure they are secure.
    • Monitor Login Activity: Monitor backend login activity for suspicious patterns and unauthorized access attempts.

Attack Surface: 5. Insufficient Backend Access Control Leading to Privilege Escalation

  • Description: Improperly configured backend roles and permissions can grant excessive privileges, allowing lower-privileged users to access sensitive administrative functionalities.
  • October Contribution: OctoberCMS's role-based access control system, if misconfigured, can lead to unintended privilege escalation.
  • Example: A user with a "Content Editor" role is mistakenly granted permissions to modify system settings or install plugins due to misconfigured roles, allowing them to escalate their privileges.
  • Impact: Unauthorized access to sensitive configurations, potential for further system compromise, data manipulation, or website disruption.
  • Risk Severity: High
  • Mitigation Strategies:
    • Principle of Least Privilege: Configure backend roles and permissions strictly based on the principle of least privilege, granting users only the necessary access for their roles.
    • Regular Role and Permission Review: Regularly review and audit user roles and permissions to ensure they are correctly configured and aligned with user responsibilities.
    • Custom Roles for Specific Needs: Create custom roles tailored to specific user functions instead of relying solely on default roles, allowing for finer-grained control.
    • Thorough Testing of Permissions: Thoroughly test role and permission configurations after any changes to ensure they function as intended and do not grant unintended access.