CVE-2011-3857 in Antisnews
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Antisnews theme before 1.10 for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the s parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/11/2019
The CVE-2011-3857 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw that affected the Antisnews WordPress theme version 1.9 and earlier. This vulnerability resides within the theme's handling of user input through the s parameter, which is commonly used for search functionality in WordPress installations. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a victim's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the user. The vulnerability specifically impacts WordPress sites utilizing the Antisnews theme, making it a targeted issue for attackers who can identify vulnerable installations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and output encoding within the theme's search implementation. When users enter search terms into the s parameter, the theme fails to adequately sanitize or escape the input before rendering it in the web page context. This lack of proper sanitization creates an opening for attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content that gets executed when other users view the search results page. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which categorizes improper neutralization of input during web output, specifically addressing cross-site scripting flaws where user-controllable data is rendered without appropriate escaping mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-3857 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains that leverage the executed scripts for further exploitation. Attackers can craft malicious search queries that, when viewed by other users, execute code that steals cookies, redirects users to malicious sites, or performs actions that compromise user accounts. The vulnerability's remote nature means attackers don't require local access to the system and can exploit it from anywhere on the internet. This makes it particularly dangerous for WordPress sites that have many visitors or are used by users with administrative privileges. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering attacks including the use of malicious links or content to compromise systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-3857 primarily involve updating to the patched version of the Antisnews theme, specifically version 1.10 or later, which implements proper input sanitization and output encoding. System administrators should also implement comprehensive input validation at multiple layers, including implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, using proper HTML escaping for all dynamic content, and regularly updating all WordPress themes and plugins to prevent similar vulnerabilities. Additional protective measures include monitoring for suspicious search queries and implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious input patterns. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments of their WordPress installations to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other components of their web applications.