CVE-2007-3238 in WordPress
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in functions.php in the default theme in WordPress 2.2 allows remote authenticated administrators to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the PATH_INFO (REQUEST_URI) to wp-admin/themes.php, a different vulnerability than CVE-2007-1622. NOTE: this might not cross privilege boundaries in some configurations, since the Administrator role has the unfiltered_html capability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/15/2021
This cross-site scripting vulnerability exists within the WordPress content management system version 2.2 default theme implementation. The flaw specifically affects the functions.php file within the default theme and manifests when processing PATH_INFO or REQUEST_URI parameters in the wp-admin/themes.php administrative interface. The vulnerability represents a classic stored XSS attack vector that allows authenticated administrators to inject malicious scripts into the web application's response. Unlike other similar vulnerabilities such as CVE-2007-1622, this particular flaw operates through a distinct code path involving the PATH_INFO parameter handling within the administrative theme management interface. The vulnerability's exploitation requires an attacker to possess valid administrative credentials, making it a privilege escalation issue within the context of the WordPress security model. This weakness directly violates the principle of least privilege as it enables an authenticated user with administrative capabilities to potentially compromise other users within the same WordPress installation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input sanitization within the WordPress core codebase. When the system processes the REQUEST_URI parameter through the PATH_INFO mechanism in the wp-admin/themes.php endpoint, it fails to adequately filter or escape user-supplied input before rendering it in the web response. This creates an environment where malicious JavaScript code can be injected and subsequently executed in the browsers of other users who access the affected administrative interface. The vulnerability specifically targets the default theme's functions.php file which is responsible for handling various administrative functions and theme-related operations. The flaw allows for arbitrary script injection because the application does not properly validate or sanitize the PATH_INFO component of the URI before incorporating it into the HTML output. This represents a clear violation of secure coding practices and falls under the CWE-79 category for Cross-site Scripting vulnerabilities. The attack vector operates through the web server's handling of the PATH_INFO parameter, which is often used to pass additional information to scripts and can be manipulated to inject malicious content into the application's response.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection as it provides attackers with potential access to administrative functions and user data within the WordPress environment. An authenticated administrator with the unfiltered_html capability can leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious scripts that may perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or even modifying content within the WordPress installation. The fact that this vulnerability exists within the administrative theme management interface means that it could be used to compromise the entire WordPress installation if other users with lower privileges are present. The attack scenario involves an attacker who has already gained administrative access through other means, using this vulnerability to maintain persistence or to escalate their privileges further. The vulnerability's potential to cross privilege boundaries is limited in certain configurations where the Administrator role has the unfiltered_html capability, but this capability itself represents a security risk as it allows unrestricted HTML injection. This vulnerability enables attackers to potentially establish backdoors or perform data exfiltration from the WordPress installation, making it a significant concern for organizations relying on WordPress for their content management needs.
The recommended mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate patching of the WordPress installation to the latest security updates, as this specific flaw was addressed in subsequent versions of the software. Organizations should ensure that all WordPress installations are running patched versions that contain the appropriate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding practices within the application codebase can prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future. Security teams should consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious URI patterns that might indicate attempts to exploit this class of vulnerability. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by limiting administrative capabilities to only those users who require them, reducing the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar input validation issues within the WordPress codebase or any custom plugins or themes that may be in use. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous behavior patterns in administrative interfaces, as this vulnerability could be used as part of a broader attack strategy to compromise the entire web application infrastructure. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059.007 technique for Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, indicating that it enables attackers to execute malicious JavaScript code within the context of the victim's browser session.