CVE-2012-2920 in User Photo
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the userphoto_options_page function in user-photo.php in the User Photo plugin before 0.9.5.2 for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the PATH_INFO to wp-admin/options-general.php. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2018
The CVE-2012-2920 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the User Photo plugin for WordPress, specifically affecting versions prior to 0.9.5.2. This vulnerability resides in the userphoto_options_page function within the user-photo.php file, demonstrating a classic input validation failure that enables malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML content in the context of affected users' browsers. The flaw exploits the plugin's improper handling of user input through the PATH_INFO parameter when accessing the wp-admin/options-general.php administrative endpoint, creating a persistent vector for attack execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the PATH_INFO component of the web request, which is typically used to pass additional information to PHP scripts. When the User Photo plugin processes this parameter without adequate sanitization or validation, it allows attackers to inject malicious payloads directly into the plugin's administrative interface. This creates a scenario where any user with sufficient privileges to access the WordPress admin panel can become a victim of the XSS attack, as the malicious script executes within the legitimate user context and can access all the privileges of the authenticated session.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to WordPress installations using the affected plugin version. Attackers can leverage this flaw to steal administrative credentials, modify plugin configurations, inject malicious advertisements, or redirect users to phishing sites. The vulnerability's persistence stems from the fact that the injected content becomes part of the plugin's administrative interface, meaning that any user who accesses the affected page will execute the malicious code. This creates a continuous threat vector that can compromise multiple users over time, especially in environments where administrators regularly access the plugin's configuration interface.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in software applications. This classification emphasizes the fundamental weakness in input handling and output encoding practices within the plugin's codebase. The attack pattern follows typical XSS exploitation techniques where malicious input is processed and rendered without proper sanitization, creating an execution environment for attacker-controlled scripts. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers the exploitation of web applications through injection flaws, demonstrating how this vulnerability fits within broader attack frameworks targeting web-based systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-2920 primarily involve immediate upgrading to version 0.9.5.2 or later of the User Photo plugin, which contains the necessary patches to address the input validation issues. Additionally, administrators should implement proper input sanitization measures at the web server level, including the use of Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, and regular security audits of installed plugins to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. Network-based protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, though the most effective solution remains the immediate patching of the vulnerable plugin. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring systems to detect and alert on suspicious administrative activities that might indicate exploitation attempts.