CVE-2005-2107 in WordPress
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in post.php in WordPress 1.5.1.2 and earlier allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) p or (2) comment parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-2107 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting WordPress versions 1.5.1.2 and earlier, specifically within the post.php script. This vulnerability exposes the platform to remote code execution risks through malicious web script injection, potentially compromising user sessions and enabling unauthorized access to sensitive data. The flaw exists in the handling of user-supplied input parameters, making it particularly dangerous for content management systems where user interaction is frequent and diverse.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the WordPress core codebase. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads in either the p or comment parameters of the post.php script, which are then reflected back to users without proper HTML escaping or script validation. This allows malicious scripts to execute within the victim's browser context, potentially stealing cookies, session tokens, or performing unauthorized actions on behalf of the user. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for WordPress installations, particularly those with multiple users or administrators who may inadvertently click on malicious links. The impact extends beyond simple script injection, as attackers could leverage this flaw to establish persistent access through session hijacking, data exfiltration, or to propagate further attacks within the compromised environment. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of WordPress, making it a critical concern for any website relying on the platform for content management, as it undermines the fundamental security assumptions of web applications.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of the WordPress installation to version 1.5.2 or later, where the XSS vulnerabilities have been addressed through proper input validation and output sanitization. Additionally, administrators should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, deploy web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, and conduct regular security audits of user inputs. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding practices, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1566 for initial access through malicious web content, and emphasizing the need for robust application security measures throughout the software development lifecycle.