CVE-2011-5179 in Skysa App Bar Integration plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in skysa-official/skysa.php in Skysa App Bar Integration plugin, possibly before 1.04, for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the submit parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/02/2025
The CVE-2011-5179 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Skysa App Bar Integration WordPress plugin, specifically affecting the skysa.php file. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws. The vulnerability exists in the plugin's handling of user input through the submit parameter, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code into the application's response. The affected version appears to be prior to 1.04, indicating this was a relatively early issue in the plugin's lifecycle that was subsequently addressed through a patch release.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a remote attacker crafts a malicious payload containing script code and submits it through the vulnerable submit parameter. The plugin fails to properly sanitize or escape this input before incorporating it into the web page response, allowing the injected code to execute in the context of other users' browsers. This type of vulnerability enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of the affected website, or redirection to malicious sites. The XSS flaw operates at the client-side level, meaning that the malicious script executes within the browser of unsuspecting users who visit pages containing the injected content.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to WordPress websites using the Skysa App Bar Integration plugin. The impact extends beyond simple data theft to include potential compromise of user sessions and the ability to manipulate the website's content from within the browser context. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to inject malicious JavaScript that could harvest cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or even install malware on user machines. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require local system access or authentication to exploit it, making it particularly dangerous for widely used WordPress plugins. The attack vector is straightforward and can be automated, increasing the potential for large-scale exploitation across multiple websites.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-5179 involve immediate patching of the affected plugin to version 1.04 or later, which should contain proper input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms. Organizations should also implement proper content security policies to limit the execution of inline scripts and employ web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other plugins and themes. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious inputs and T1059.001 for execution of malicious code through web scripts, highlighting the multi-stage nature of attacks that can exploit such vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding practices, as recommended by OWASP and the CWE guidelines, would have prevented this specific vulnerability from being exploitable.