CVE-2011-3859 in Trending
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Trending theme before 0.2 for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the cpage parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3859 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Trending WordPress theme version 0.1 and earlier. This security weakness resides in how the theme handles user input through the cpage parameter, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability specifically affects WordPress installations utilizing the Trending theme, making it a targeted issue for users within this specific ecosystem rather than a broader WordPress core vulnerability.
The technical implementation of this XSS flaw occurs when the cpage parameter is processed without proper sanitization or output encoding mechanisms. When users navigate to pages that utilize this parameter, the theme fails to validate or escape the input data before incorporating it into the HTML response. This allows attackers to craft malicious URLs containing script tags or other HTML elements that get executed when legitimate users view the affected pages. The vulnerability's classification as a reflected XSS issue means that the malicious payload must be injected through user-supplied input that gets immediately reflected back in the application's response, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that rely heavily on dynamic content generation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to WordPress site administrators and their visitors. Attackers can exploit this weakness to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, redirect victims to malicious websites, or even deface the affected websites. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as the malicious scripts can persist in the website's content or user sessions, potentially leading to more severe compromise scenarios. Given that the Trending theme was designed for WordPress, which serves as a foundation for millions of websites, the potential attack surface is substantial. The vulnerability essentially allows for persistent manipulation of user experiences and can be leveraged for phishing attacks, credential theft, or distribution of malware through compromised user browsers.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting weaknesses in web applications. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices and inadequate output encoding that are fundamental to preventing XSS attacks. In the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability would be categorized under the T1059.007 technique for script injection, potentially leading to further compromise through T1566 for credential access or T1190 for exploitation of web applications. The remediation strategy involves immediate upgrading of the Trending theme to version 0.2 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and output encoding measures. Additionally, administrators should implement content security policies, regularly audit their WordPress installations for outdated themes and plugins, and consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block such malicious payloads. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of theme security reviews and the necessity for developers to follow secure coding practices including proper input validation and output encoding to prevent similar issues in the future.