CVE-2007-3239 in WordPress
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in searchform.php in the AndyBlue theme before 20070607 for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the PHP_SELF portion of a URI to index.php. NOTE: this can be leveraged for PHP code execution in an administrative session.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/12/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-3239 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the AndyBlue WordPress theme version prior to 20070607. This security weakness resides in the searchform.php file and specifically targets the PHP_SELF variable handling within URI processing. The vulnerability enables remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content through the PHP_SELF portion of a URI directed to index.php, creating a persistent vector for malicious code delivery.
The technical nature of this flaw aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as weaknesses that allow attackers to inject malicious scripts into web applications viewed by other users. The vulnerability operates by failing to properly sanitize or escape user input that flows through the PHP_SELF server variable, which contains the path of the current script. When WordPress processes search queries through the AndyBlue theme, the application fails to adequately validate or escape the PHP_SELF parameter, creating an injection point that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond typical XSS attacks, as the description explicitly notes that it can be leveraged for PHP code execution within administrative sessions. This escalation capability makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to potentially compromise administrator accounts and gain full control over WordPress installations. The attack vector requires a victim to visit a maliciously crafted URL containing the XSS payload, but once executed, the malicious code can persist and execute in the context of the victim's browser session, potentially allowing for session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation.
The threat landscape for this vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor input validation flaws can create significant security risks when they occur in widely used themes. WordPress themes represent a common attack surface, and the AndyBlue theme's widespread adoption meant that this vulnerability could affect numerous websites. The specific exploitation method involves crafting a URI that includes malicious script in the PHP_SELF parameter, which is then processed by the vulnerable searchform.php file. This creates a persistent threat vector that can be used to establish backdoors, steal cookies, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the affected WordPress theme to version 20070607 or later, which contains the necessary input sanitization fixes. Organizations should also implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent similar issues in the future. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1059.007 for scripting languages, as it involves the execution of malicious code through web-based interfaces. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers and regular security audits of WordPress themes and plugins can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.