CVE-2013-1407 in Events Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the Events Manager plugin before 5.3.5 and Events Manager Pro plugin before 2.2.9 for WordPress allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) scope parameter to index.php; (2) user_name, (3) dbem_phone, (4) user_email, or (5) booking_comment parameter to an event with registration enabled; or the (6) _wpnonce parameter to wp-admin/edit.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-1407 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness affecting the Events Manager plugin ecosystem for WordPress platforms. This flaw exists in versions prior to 5.3.5 for the standard Events Manager plugin and 2.2.9 for Events Manager Pro, creating a significant security risk for WordPress users who rely on these event management tools. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the plugin's codebase, allowing malicious actors to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of affected users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability spans multiple parameter injection points within the plugin's functionality. Attackers can exploit the scope parameter in the index.php file to inject malicious scripts, while the user_name, dbem_phone, user_email, and booking_comment parameters in event registration forms provide additional attack vectors. The _wpnonce parameter within wp-admin/edit.php represents another critical entry point that could be leveraged by authenticated attackers to bypass security controls. These injection points demonstrate a pattern of improper input handling that violates fundamental web security principles and aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to potentially hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, or redirect users to malicious websites. When users with administrative privileges interact with compromised event registration forms or administrative interfaces, the attack surface expands significantly. The vulnerability's exploitation could lead to complete compromise of WordPress installations, especially when combined with other attack vectors or when administrators are tricked into executing malicious payloads through social engineering techniques. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers social engineering methods that can be employed to gain initial access.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected plugin versions to 5.3.5 or later for the standard plugin and 2.2.9 or later for the Pro version. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including input validation at multiple layers, output encoding for all dynamic content, and regular security auditing of third-party plugins. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious parameter patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date WordPress plugins and implementing comprehensive security controls as outlined in industry standards such as the OWASP Top Ten and NIST Cybersecurity Framework guidelines.