CVE-2018-7448

Public exploit available. Not confirmed exploited in the wild yet. No fix published yet.

CVSS 3.07.5High EPSS percentile96th13% chance in 30 days CISA KEVNot listedNo confirmed exploitation
Public exploit: 2 sources FixNone yetNo fix or workaround published

Published 2018-02-26Updated 2024-11-21Sources: CVE.org, NVD

NVD CVE.org

What to do

No fixed build or workaround is published yet. Limit exposure and watch for a patch.

Steps

Written by AI from the record

Check whether you run CMS Made Simple 2.1.6 and whether /cmsms-2.1.6-install.php/index.php can be reached.
Remove the installer from the web server after installation, or block all public access to it immediately.
No published fixed version is available; contact your CMS Made Simple support provider about a supported upgrade or replacement plan.
Review server and website logs for unexpected requests to the installer and unexplained new or modified PHP files.

May need vendor or contractor work

Is your organisation exposed?Request an assessment to establish which checks fit your systems.

What it is

From the CVE record

Remote code execution vulnerability in /cmsms-2.1.6-install.php/index.php in CMS Made Simple version 2.1.6 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary PHP code via the "timezone" parameter in step 4 of a fresh installation procedure.

In plain language

Written by AI from the record

CMS Made Simple 2.1.6 is at risk if its installation page is still accessible; a typical business using it should act now to close that page.

Unauthenticated remote code execution through PHP-code injection in the installer’s `timezone` parameter during the final installation step.

If you're affected

Full website server takeover
Customer data theft
Website content alteration
Service disruption

What is it

This problem is in a one-time setup page that should not remain available after a website is installed. If left exposed, it can let an outsider run commands on the website server—like leaving the keys to your business premises in an unlocked installation toolbox.

Who is affected

This matters to you if you run CMS Made Simple, particularly if an old installation setup page was left on the server. An attacker does not need an account or anyone at your business to click anything; it is only a risk while the installer is accessible over the network.

How urgent is it

Public attack code exists, so attackers can target an exposed installer without needing a login. This is an amber issue: close or remove the installer promptly, especially on any publicly reachable website. CISA has not listed this CVE as known to be actively exploited.

What to do — in detail

Confirm exposure by checking the deployed CMS Made Simple files and web-server routes for /cmsms-2.1.6-install.php/index.php; also review whether the application is version 2.1.6. No fixed versions or branch-specific remediation targets are available in the supplied patch information, so do not rely on an in-place version upgrade as a documented fix.

If patching or migration is delayed, remove the installer directory/file from the web root; if removal is temporarily impossible, deny all access to that exact path at the web server or reverse proxy and restrict administrative installation work to a private management network. There is no CISA KEV remediation due date because this CVE is not listed in KEV. Monitor web-server access logs for requests to the installer, and inspect the server for unexpected PHP files or changes made after suspicious requests.

Technical context

CVE-2018-7448 is rated CVSS 7.5 High (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) and is described as CWE-78. The supplied core analysis identifies an unauthenticated network attack against the timezone parameter in step 4 of the CMS Made Simple 2.1.6 installer, enabling arbitrary PHP execution when the installer remains accessible. Two public exploits are known. EPSS predicts a 12.8% likelihood (96th percentile) and is falling; this is predictive data, not confirmation of exploitation. The CVE is not in CISA KEV, so there is no KEV indication of confirmed active exploitation or a CISA due date.

This is a general assessment based on public vulnerability data. It does not account for your specific infrastructure — when in doubt, consult a security specialist.

Exploitation

Where each signal puts this CVE on the scale from published to confirmed exploited.

EPSS96th

Public exploit

CISA KEV

Not in the catalog. CISA has not confirmed exploitation.

Public exploits

2 sources with a proof of concept or module.

Exploit links, PoCs and Metasploit modules after sign-in

EPSS

13% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, which ranks it in the 96th percentile of scored CVEs.

Exploit Prediction Scoring System, FIRST.org. A probability, not a confirmation.

Lifecycle

21 events over 3131 days, from the signal feeds we watch.

2026-09-23EPSS band changelow → moderateepss band change
2026-09-21EPSS band changemoderate → lowepss band change
2026-09-06EPSS band change0 → moderateepss band change
2026-09-05EPSS band changemoderate → 0epss band change
2026-08-31EPSS band change0 → moderateepss band change
2026-08-28EPSS band changemoderate → lowepss band change

Affected products

cmsmadesimpleoss-project
- cms made simpleWeb & CMS Plugins

And 1 more affected product. See all after sign-in

Technical detail

CVSS 3.0 vector

Open in the CVSS calculator

CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Scored 7.5 by NVD.

How it is reached

Attack Vector NetworkExploitable remotely over the network without any special conditions
Attack Complexity HighRequires specific conditions like a race condition or non-default configuration
Privileges Required LowRequires basic user-level privileges
User Interaction NoneNo user interaction needed — fully automated exploitation

Scope

Scope UnchangedImpact is limited to the vulnerable component itself

Impact if exploited

Confidentiality HighTotal information disclosure — all data in the component is compromised
Integrity HighTotal loss of integrity — attacker can modify any data in the component
Availability HighTotal denial of service — the component is completely unavailable