CVE-2007-3241 in WordPress
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in blogroll.php in the cordobo-green-park theme for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the PHP_SELF portion of a URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/20/2021
The CVE-2007-3241 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the cordobo-green-park WordPress theme that specifically targets the blogroll.php component. This vulnerability resides in the theme's handling of the PHP_SELF server variable, which is a superglobal variable containing the filename of the currently executing script. The flaw occurs when the theme fails to properly sanitize or escape user-controllable input derived from this server variable before incorporating it into dynamic web page content. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious URLs that contain script code within the PHP_SELF portion of the URI, thereby enabling persistent or reflected XSS attacks against unsuspecting users who visit the affected WordPress site.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and output encoding practices within the cordobo-green-park theme's blogroll.php file. When a user accesses a page that triggers the vulnerable code path, the theme processes the PHP_SELF variable without adequate sanitization measures, allowing malicious payloads to be injected directly into the HTML output. This creates a persistent security risk where attackers can execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of a victim's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. The vulnerability is classified as a reflected XSS issue since the malicious script is reflected back to the user through the server's response, making it particularly dangerous in web applications where user input is directly rendered without proper context-specific escaping.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-3241 extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with a foothold for more sophisticated attacks within the WordPress environment. When successfully exploited, this vulnerability can enable attackers to steal administrator credentials, modify blog content, inject malicious advertisements, or redirect users to phishing sites. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it leverages the PHP_SELF variable, which is commonly used in web applications and often contains user-controllable elements that are not properly validated. This vulnerability affects not only the specific cordobo-green-park theme but also demonstrates broader issues in WordPress theme development practices, where proper input sanitization and output encoding are not consistently implemented. The exploitation typically requires minimal technical skill and can be automated, making it attractive to attackers seeking to compromise WordPress installations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-3241 should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The most effective immediate solution involves updating to a patched version of the cordobo-green-park theme or switching to a more secure theme altogether, as the vulnerability is specifically tied to a particular theme implementation. Additionally, administrators should implement proper input validation and output encoding practices that align with established security standards such as those defined in the OWASP Top Ten and CWE-79. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following the principle of least privilege in web application development, where all user-controllable input should be properly sanitized regardless of its source. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers as an additional defensive measure to mitigate the impact of XSS vulnerabilities, though this represents a secondary defense mechanism rather than a primary fix. The incident underscores the critical need for regular security audits of WordPress themes and plugins, as well as maintaining up-to-date security practices that address the ATT&CK framework's T1211 technique for exploitation of web application vulnerabilities through input validation flaws.