CVE-2011-5181 in Clickdesk Live Support-live Chat Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in clickdesk.php in ClickDesk Live Support - Live Chat plugin 2.0 for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the cdwidgetid parameter. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2025
The CVE-2011-5181 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the ClickDesk Live Support - Live Chat plugin version 2.0 for WordPress platforms. This vulnerability specifically affects the clickdesk.php component and exposes systems to remote code execution through malicious script injection. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization of the cdwidgetid parameter, which is processed without proper security measures to prevent malicious content from being executed within user browsers. The affected plugin operates within the WordPress ecosystem, making it particularly dangerous as it can compromise entire websites when exploited by attackers. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize user input, which directly enables XSS attacks that can persistently affect multiple users who visit compromised pages.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input containing HTML or JavaScript code and injects it through the cdwidgetid parameter. When legitimate users access pages that utilize the vulnerable plugin, their browsers execute the injected scripts within the context of their active sessions. This allows attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of web content, and redirection to malicious websites. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it leverages the trust relationship between users and the WordPress platform, making it difficult for users to distinguish between legitimate and malicious content. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and inadequate output encoding mechanisms that are fundamental security requirements in web application development.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability can result in significant damage to organizations using the affected WordPress plugin. Attackers can exploit the XSS flaw to steal administrative credentials, modify website content, redirect users to phishing sites, or install malware on visitor machines. The compromised systems may experience reputational damage, loss of customer trust, and potential regulatory penalties if sensitive user data is accessed or compromised. The vulnerability affects not only individual websites but can also serve as a launching point for broader attacks against network infrastructure. Organizations relying on the ClickDesk plugin for live chat support face elevated risk of data breaches and service disruption, particularly in environments where the plugin is widely used across multiple sites or integrated with other security-critical systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-5181 should focus on immediate patching of the affected plugin to version 2.1 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms. Security administrators should implement comprehensive input filtering and output encoding practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities in other components. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by limiting plugin permissions and regularly auditing installed WordPress components for security updates. Network monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, while web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments of their WordPress installations, maintain updated vulnerability databases, and implement security awareness training for administrators to prevent social engineering attacks that may exploit this vulnerability. The ATT&CK framework categorizes such vulnerabilities under T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566 for credential access through phishing, emphasizing the multi-faceted nature of potential exploitation paths.