CVE-2011-3841 in WP Symposium
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in uploadify/get_profile_avatar.php in the WP Symposium plugin before 11.12.08 for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the uid parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/13/2017
The CVE-2011-3841 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the WP Symposium plugin for WordPress, specifically affecting versions prior to 11.12.08. This vulnerability resides in the uploadify/get_profile_avatar.php script which processes user avatar uploads and profile information. The flaw manifests when the uid parameter is improperly handled, creating an injection point that allows remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws according to the CWE database.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious payload containing HTML or JavaScript code and injects it through the uid parameter in the uploadify/get_profile_avatar.php endpoint. When other users view the affected profile page, the injected code executes in their browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it targets the profile avatar functionality, which is frequently accessed by users and administrators within WordPress environments. This attack vector demonstrates poor input validation and output encoding practices that violate fundamental web security principles.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-3841 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to compromise entire user sessions and potentially gain elevated privileges within the WordPress environment. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to create persistent backdoors, steal administrator credentials, or manipulate user data through the avatar upload system. The vulnerability is classified under the ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for Phishing with Spoofed Credentials, as it can be used to craft convincing phishing attacks that appear legitimate within the WordPress interface. Organizations running vulnerable WP Symposium plugin versions face significant risk of data breaches and unauthorized access to their WordPress installations, particularly in environments where administrators frequently upload profile avatars.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-3841 involve immediate patching of the WP Symposium plugin to version 11.12.08 or later, which addresses the input validation issues in the uid parameter handling. Administrators should also implement proper output encoding for all user-supplied data, particularly when rendering profile information or avatar images. Additional protective measures include implementing Content Security Policy headers to restrict script execution, conducting regular security audits of WordPress plugins, and employing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payload attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date WordPress plugins and following security best practices such as input sanitization and output encoding as recommended by the OWASP Top Ten project. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools to identify similar issues across their WordPress installations and maintain comprehensive backup strategies to quickly restore systems in case of successful exploitation.