CVE-2012-5349 in Pay-with-tweet
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in pay.php in the Pay With Tweet plugin before 1.2 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) link, (2) title, or (3) dl parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/16/2025
The CVE-2012-5349 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the Pay With Tweet WordPress plugin version 1.1 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically affects the pay.php script within the plugin's functionality, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute malicious code through web-based interfaces. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the plugin's codebase, particularly when handling parameters passed to the payment processing endpoint.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves three distinct attack vectors through the link, title, and dl parameters that are processed by the pay.php script. Attackers can manipulate these parameters to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content that gets executed in the context of other users' browsers when they access the affected plugin functionality. This occurs because the plugin fails to properly sanitize or encode user-supplied input before rendering it in web pages, allowing attackers to bypass security mechanisms designed to prevent such code injection attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration from authenticated users. The vulnerability particularly affects WordPress sites that utilize the Pay With Tweet plugin for payment processing, potentially compromising the security of transactions and user data. Attackers could exploit this weakness to redirect users to malicious websites, steal cookies and session information, or even modify the content displayed to users, thereby undermining the integrity and trustworthiness of the affected web applications.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and maps to multiple techniques within the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059 category for command and control through scripting. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output encoding practices in web application security, as well as the necessity of keeping third-party plugins updated to address known security issues. Organizations should implement comprehensive security measures including regular plugin audits, input sanitization protocols, and security monitoring to prevent exploitation of such vulnerabilities. The recommended mitigation includes immediate upgrading to version 1.2 or later of the Pay With Tweet plugin, implementing proper parameter validation, and establishing security policies that mandate regular security assessments of web applications and their components.
This vulnerability serves as a prime example of how third-party software components can introduce significant security risks to web applications, emphasizing the need for robust security practices throughout the software development lifecycle. The exploitation of such flaws can result in widespread compromise of user data and system integrity, making timely patching and security monitoring essential for maintaining web application security.