CVE-2007-1894 in WordPress
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in wp-includes/general-template.php in WordPress before 20070309 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the year parameter in the wp_title function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/14/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-1894 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the WordPress content management system that existed prior to the 20070309 release. This security weakness specifically resides in the wp-includes/general-template.php file and affects the wp_title function implementation. The vulnerability manifests when the year parameter is processed through the wp_title function, creating an opportunity for remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content into the application's output. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and well-documented web application security flaws in the industry. The vulnerability's impact is particularly significant given WordPress's widespread adoption as a web publishing platform, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to exploit client-side vulnerabilities.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the improper handling of user-supplied input within the wp_title function. When the year parameter is passed to this function without adequate sanitization or output encoding, malicious code embedded within the parameter can be executed in the context of other users' browsers. The flaw essentially allows attackers to inject script tags or other HTML content that gets rendered on web pages, potentially leading to session hijacking, defacement, or more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft. This vulnerability demonstrates a failure in input validation and output encoding practices that are fundamental to preventing XSS attacks. The specific function in question is part of WordPress's general template system, indicating that the vulnerability could potentially affect numerous pages and sites that rely on the standard WordPress templating mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited across multiple WordPress installations. Attackers can craft malicious URLs with specially formatted year parameters that, when viewed by unsuspecting users, execute arbitrary code in their browsers. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be leveraged for phishing attacks, where users might be redirected to malicious sites or have their credentials harvested. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require authentication or special privileges, making it accessible to anyone who can influence the year parameter input. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566 (Phishing) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) techniques, as it enables attackers to deliver malicious payloads through web-based vectors and execute code within victim environments. The widespread nature of WordPress installations means that this vulnerability could potentially affect thousands of websites simultaneously.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-1894 involve immediate patching of the WordPress installation to version 20070309 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the XSS vulnerability. Organizations should implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in custom applications. The fix typically involves ensuring that all user-supplied parameters are properly sanitized before being processed by functions like wp_title. Security practitioners should also implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to provide additional protection against XSS attacks, though this serves as a supplementary defense rather than a replacement for proper input sanitization. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify potential XSS vulnerabilities in custom WordPress themes and plugins. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help detect and block malicious attempts to exploit this type of vulnerability. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of keeping CMS platforms updated and following secure coding practices that prevent user input from being directly rendered without proper sanitization and encoding measures.