CVE-2011-0641 in WordPress
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in wp-admin/admin.php in the StatPressCN plugin 1.9.0 for WordPress allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) what1, (2) what2, (3) what3, (4) what4, and (5) what5 parameters. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/11/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0641 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the StatPressCN plugin version 1.9.0 for WordPress platforms. This security weakness resides in the wp-admin/admin.php file and affects the administrative interface of WordPress installations that utilize this specific plugin version. The vulnerability's classification as a persistent XSS issue stems from its ability to execute malicious scripts within the context of authenticated admin sessions, potentially compromising the entire WordPress installation and user data. The affected parameters what1 through what5 serve as entry points for attackers to inject malicious payloads that can be executed when administrators view the affected pages.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of HTTP parameters in the administrative interface of WordPress. Attackers can craft malicious requests containing script code within the what1 through what5 parameters, which are then processed by the StatPressCN plugin without proper input validation or output sanitization. This failure to properly escape or validate user-supplied input creates an environment where malicious scripts can be stored and subsequently executed in the browser context of administrators who access the affected administrative pages. The vulnerability's impact is amplified because it targets the WordPress admin interface, which typically operates with elevated privileges and can access sensitive system functions and data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, steal administrative credentials, modify website content, and potentially escalate privileges within the WordPress environment. When administrators interact with the compromised administrative pages, their browsers execute the injected scripts, which can redirect them to malicious sites, steal cookies and session tokens, or perform unauthorized actions on behalf of the administrator. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires minimal user interaction beyond visiting the affected administrative pages, making it a stealthy threat that can persist undetected within WordPress installations.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 (Cross-site Scripting) and represents a classic example of improper input validation and output encoding failures that are commonly exploited in web application attacks. The vulnerability's characteristics also map to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript) and T1566 (Phishing) as attackers may use the XSS capability to deliver malicious payloads or redirect administrators to phishing sites. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of a broader attack surface assessment, particularly when evaluating WordPress plugin security and implementing defense-in-depth strategies. The lack of known provenance for this information does not diminish its potential impact, as similar vulnerabilities have been widely documented in WordPress plugin ecosystems and represent common security oversights in content management systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate plugin updates to versions that address the XSS flaws, implementation of web application firewalls with XSS detection capabilities, and regular security audits of installed WordPress plugins. Administrators should also enforce strict input validation on all administrative interfaces and consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining updated WordPress installations and plugins, as well as conducting regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar issues before they can be exploited by malicious actors. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual administrative activity patterns that might indicate successful exploitation attempts.