CVE-2011-5304 in Sodahead Polls Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the Sodahead Polls plugin before 2.0.4 for WordPress allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) the poll_id parameter to customizer.php or (2) the customize parameter to poll.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/24/2025
The CVE-2011-5304 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the Sodahead Polls WordPress plugin affecting versions prior to 2.0.4. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically targeting web applications that fail to properly validate and sanitize user input before rendering it in web pages. The flaw exists in the plugin's handling of parameters within two distinct endpoints: customizer.php and poll.php, creating multiple attack vectors for malicious actors seeking to exploit the WordPress installation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through improper input validation in the plugin's code structure where the poll_id parameter in customizer.php and the customize parameter in poll.php are directly incorporated into the web response without adequate sanitization. Attackers can craft malicious payloads containing script tags or HTML code that gets executed in the context of other users' browsers when they view the affected poll pages. This occurs because the plugin fails to implement proper output encoding or input validation mechanisms that would prevent malicious code from being interpreted as executable content rather than plain text.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for WordPress administrators and end-users who rely on the Sodahead Polls plugin for their website functionality. Remote attackers can exploit these vulnerabilities to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, or inject phishing content that appears legitimate to users. The vulnerability affects the entire WordPress ecosystem where the plugin is installed, potentially allowing attackers to compromise user sessions and escalate privileges within the application context. This type of vulnerability also enables persistent XSS attacks that can remain active until the plugin is updated or the affected parameters are properly sanitized.
The attack surface for CVE-2011-5304 aligns with the ATT&CK framework's T1566.001 technique for Initial Access through Valid Accounts, as attackers can leverage these vulnerabilities to establish footholds in WordPress environments without requiring direct authentication. The vulnerability also maps to T1203.001 for Exploitation for Credential Access, where session tokens and user credentials can be harvested through malicious script execution. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to version 2.0.4 or later of the Sodahead Polls plugin, implementing web application firewalls, and conducting thorough security audits of all installed WordPress plugins. Additionally, administrators should enforce proper input validation and output encoding practices across all web applications, following the OWASP secure coding guidelines to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in future development cycles.