CVE-2013-10028 in EELV Newsletter Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/04/2023
A vulnerability was found in EELV Newsletter Plugin 2.x on WordPress. It has been rated as problematic. Affected by this issue is the function style_newsletter of the file lettreinfo.php. The manipulation of the argument email leads to cross site scripting. The attack may be launched remotely. The name of the patch is 3339b42316c5edf73e56eb209b6a3bb3e868d6ed. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component. The identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-230660.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-10028 represents a cross site scripting flaw in the EELV Newsletter Plugin version 2.x for WordPress platforms. This security weakness specifically impacts the style_newsletter function within the lettreinfo.php file, creating a persistent threat vector that can be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability's classification as problematic indicates a significant risk to web application security, particularly given the widespread adoption of WordPress as a content management system. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the email argument parameter, which serves as the primary attack vector for cross site scripting execution. When a user interacts with the affected function, the malicious input is not adequately filtered or escaped, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into the web application's response. This remote exploitation capability means that threat actors can leverage the vulnerability without requiring physical access to the target system or direct user interaction beyond visiting a maliciously crafted URL. The vulnerability's nature aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross site scripting weaknesses in web applications, and follows the ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploiting web application vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it provides attackers with the ability to execute malicious code within the context of the victim's browser session. This could enable session hijacking, credential theft, or the redirection of users to malicious websites. The remote attack surface increases the potential for large-scale exploitation, particularly since WordPress installations are often publicly accessible and may contain sensitive user information. The vulnerability affects not just individual users but potentially entire websites that rely on the newsletter plugin for email distribution and user management.
Security mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate upgrade procedures to address the identified flaw, with the patch reference 3339b42316c5edf73e56eb209b6a3bb3e868d6ed providing the necessary code modifications. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation measures that sanitize all user-supplied data before processing, particularly focusing on email address fields and other parameters that may be susceptible to injection attacks. Additional defensive measures include implementing content security policies to limit script execution, regular security auditing of third-party plugins, and maintaining updated vulnerability databases to identify and remediate similar issues proactively. The remediation process should also include monitoring for exploitation attempts and ensuring that all WordPress components maintain current security patches to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future.