CVE-2008-4733 in WP Comment Remix plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in wpcommentremix.php in WP Comment Remix plugin before 1.4.4 for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) replytotext, (2) quotetext, (3) originallypostedby, (4) sep, (5) maxtags, (6) tagsep, (7) tagheadersep, (8) taglabel, and (9) tagheaderlabel parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2017
The CVE-2008-4733 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the WP Comment Remix WordPress plugin, specifically affecting versions prior to 1.4.4. This vulnerability resides in the wpcommentremix.php file and demonstrates a classic input validation weakness that has been documented under CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a fundamental web application security flaw. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a victim's browser by manipulating parameters within the plugin's comment rendering functionality. The affected parameters include replytotext, quotetext, originallypostedby, sep, maxtags, tagsep, tagheadersep, taglabel, and tagheaderlabel, all of which are processed without proper sanitization or output encoding.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when user-supplied input from these parameters is directly incorporated into HTML output without appropriate validation or encoding mechanisms. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when processed by the vulnerable plugin, will execute within the browser context of any user who views the affected comment or comment-related content. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1190, which describes the use of malicious content to compromise web applications. The impact is particularly concerning because WordPress plugins often have broad access to user data and can potentially be leveraged to escalate privileges or extract sensitive information from authenticated users. The vulnerability's scope extends beyond simple script execution, as it can be used to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious sites.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-4733 extends beyond immediate script execution capabilities to encompass broader security implications for WordPress installations. When exploited, this vulnerability can enable attackers to manipulate comment displays, potentially leading to defacement of comment sections or more sophisticated attacks such as credential harvesting. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects core comment functionality that is frequently used and visible to all website visitors. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with the broader class of injection flaws that have been consistently ranked among the top security risks in web applications, as documented in OWASP Top 10. The lack of proper input sanitization in the plugin's parameter handling demonstrates a fundamental security oversight that could be exploited to compromise entire WordPress installations, especially when combined with other vulnerabilities or when the plugin is used in conjunction with other vulnerable components. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected installations and implement additional monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate upgrading to WP Comment Remix version 1.4.4 or later, which contains the necessary security patches. Additionally, administrators should implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms for all user-supplied data, particularly in comment-related functionality. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of defense against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other plugins or themes that may be present in the WordPress environment. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads attempting to exploit known XSS vulnerabilities. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of keeping all WordPress components updated and maintaining robust security practices for web application development and deployment.