CVE-2011-4955 in bSuite Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in ui_stats.php in the bSuite plugin before 5 alpha 3 for WordPress allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) s or (2) p parameters to index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/27/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4955 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the bSuite plugin for WordPress systems. This vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to 5 alpha 3 and resides in the ui_stats.php file which processes user input through the index.php endpoint. The flaw manifests when remote attackers exploit two distinct parameter injection points named 's' and 'p' in the index.php script, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the affected WordPress installation. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security weakness that enables attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through parameter manipulation where attackers can craft malicious URLs containing script payloads in either the 's' or 'p' parameters. When these parameters are processed by the ui_stats.php script without proper input sanitization or output encoding, the injected content becomes executable within the browser context of legitimate users who access the affected pages. This creates a persistent threat vector where authenticated users could unknowingly execute malicious code, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further compromise of the WordPress environment. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of proper input validation and output encoding practices that are fundamental to secure web application development.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including stealing administrator credentials, modifying website content, redirecting users to phishing sites, or even establishing persistent backdoors within the WordPress installation. Given that WordPress is one of the most widely used content management systems, the potential attack surface for this vulnerability is extensive, affecting numerous websites that have not updated to the patched version of the bSuite plugin. The vulnerability particularly poses a significant risk to WordPress sites that rely heavily on user-generated content or administrative interfaces where the bSuite plugin is installed, as these environments provide attackers with more opportunities for successful exploitation.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigation strategies including updating the bSuite plugin to version 5 alpha 3 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the XSS vulnerabilities. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious parameter patterns, conduct thorough input validation on all user-supplied data, and enforce proper output encoding for all dynamic content. The remediation process should also include monitoring for any signs of exploitation attempts and conducting regular security assessments of WordPress installations to identify and address similar vulnerabilities. Organizations using WordPress should establish robust patch management procedures to ensure timely updates of all plugins and themes, as this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining current security versions to prevent exploitation by threat actors who actively target known vulnerabilities in popular web applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under the T1059 technique for command and scripting interpreter, where attackers can leverage XSS to execute malicious scripts and potentially escalate privileges within the compromised WordPress environment.