CVE-2011-4568 in Fv Wordpress Flowplayer Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in view/frontend-head.php in the Flowplayer plugin before 1.2.12 for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/23/2015
The CVE-2011-4568 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the Flowplayer WordPress plugin that affected versions prior to 1.2.12. This vulnerability resides within the view/frontend-head.php file and creates a significant security risk for WordPress installations that utilize this media player plugin. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a victim's browser by manipulating URI parameters, effectively bypassing standard security controls that protect against unauthorized code execution. The vulnerability specifically targets the frontend rendering process where user-supplied input is not properly sanitized before being output to web pages.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the Flowplayer plugin's frontend handling mechanism. When the plugin processes URI parameters in the frontend-head.php file, it fails to properly escape or filter user-controllable input before incorporating it into HTML output. This creates an environment where malicious actors can inject JavaScript code, HTML tags, or other malicious content through crafted URI parameters. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, where the weakness allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it leverages the plugin's legitimate functionality to deliver malicious payloads, making detection more challenging.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of web content, and redirection to malicious websites. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to steal administrator credentials, modify content on the WordPress site, or create backdoors for persistent access. The vulnerability affects any WordPress installation using the Flowplayer plugin version 1.2.11 or earlier, making it a widespread concern across numerous websites that relied on this media player functionality. The risk is amplified because the attack requires no authentication and can be executed through simple URL manipulation, making it accessible to even amateur attackers.
Security mitigations for CVE-2011-4568 primarily involve immediate patching of the Flowplayer plugin to version 1.2.12 or later, which addresses the input validation issues in the frontend-head.php file. Organizations should implement proper input sanitization measures and output encoding for all user-controllable parameters within web applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and the ATT&CK framework's web application attack patterns. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to prevent script execution even if XSS vulnerabilities exist. Regular security audits and plugin updates remain critical defensive measures against similar vulnerabilities in WordPress ecosystems. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect and prevent exploitation attempts targeting known vulnerabilities like this one.