CVE-2011-5104 in WP e-Commerce
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in wpsc-admin/display-sales-logs.php in WP e-Commerce plugin 3.8.7.1 and possibly earlier for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the custom_text parameter. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-5104 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the WP e-Commerce plugin for WordPress, specifically affecting version 3.8.7.1 and potentially earlier releases. This security weakness resides in the wpsc-admin/display-sales-logs.php file, which processes user input without adequate sanitization or validation mechanisms. The vulnerability manifests when the custom_text parameter is manipulated by remote attackers, enabling them to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content into the application's administrative interface. This flaw fundamentally compromises the integrity of the WordPress administration environment and exposes users to various malicious activities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the plugin's administrative display functionality. When the custom_text parameter is processed, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it within the web page context. This absence of proper data sanitization creates an exploitable condition where attacker-controlled input can be executed as part of the webpage's content. The flaw aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, and represents a classic example of how improper input handling can lead to severe security consequences. The vulnerability operates under the principle that untrusted input should never be directly rendered without appropriate sanitization or encoding measures.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-5104 extends beyond simple script injection, creating potential pathways for more sophisticated attacks within the compromised WordPress environment. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious scripts in the context of authenticated administrative sessions, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive administrative functions. The attack vector enables threat actors to manipulate sales logs display functionality, which could lead to data exfiltration, session hijacking, or further privilege escalation within the WordPress installation. This vulnerability particularly affects WordPress sites using the WP e-Commerce plugin, where administrators may be tricked into viewing malicious content through specially crafted URLs that exploit the XSS weakness. The security implications align with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script injection and T1566 for credential harvesting through social engineering.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-5104 require immediate attention from WordPress administrators and security teams responsible for maintaining the affected plugin installations. The most effective immediate solution involves upgrading to a patched version of the WP e-Commerce plugin where the XSS vulnerability has been addressed through proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization practices that ensure all user-supplied data is properly escaped or encoded before being rendered in web contexts. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls should also be considered as defensive measures. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of regular security updates and maintaining awareness of third-party plugin vulnerabilities, as outlined in industry best practices for WordPress security management.