CVE-2011-5180 in ZooEffect
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in wp-1pluginjquery.php in the ZooEffect plugin 1.01 for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the page parameter. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information. NOTE: this has been disputed by a third party.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/27/2025
The CVE-2011-5180 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the ZooEffect WordPress plugin version 1.01, specifically affecting the wp-1pluginjquery.php component. 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 arises from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the plugin's handling of user-supplied data, creating an exploitable path for malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into web pages viewed by other users. The affected parameter, named 'page', demonstrates poor security practices where user input directly influences the application's output without proper sanitization or encoding measures.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a remote attacker crafts a malicious URL containing script code within the page parameter, which is then processed by the vulnerable wp-1pluginjquery.php script. When other users browse to this specially crafted URL, the injected script executes in their browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be leveraged to create persistent attacks that affect multiple users over time. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the widespread use of WordPress platforms and the ease with which attackers can exploit such flaws without requiring elevated privileges or complex attack vectors. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this under T1531 - Account Access Removal and T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers can use XSS to establish persistent access and execute malicious commands through compromised user sessions.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-5180 extends beyond immediate script execution, potentially enabling attackers to perform more sophisticated attacks such as cookie theft, defacement of web pages, or redirection to phishing sites. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental lack of proper input validation practices within the plugin's codebase, which violates security best practices outlined in OWASP Top Ten and other industry standards. Organizations using the affected ZooEffect plugin version 1.01 face significant risk of unauthorized access and data compromise, particularly in environments where users may be tricked into clicking malicious links. The disputed nature of this vulnerability suggests potential inconsistencies in the original reporting or validation process, which is common in security research where different parties may interpret the same vulnerability differently based on their testing methodologies or environmental factors. Security professionals must evaluate such disputed vulnerabilities carefully, considering both the original findings and any counter-evidence presented by the software vendors or other security researchers. The remediation process requires immediate patching or removal of the vulnerable plugin, implementing proper input validation, and conducting comprehensive security reviews of all installed WordPress plugins to identify similar vulnerabilities that may exist in the broader ecosystem.