CVE-2013-1758 in Watermark
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Marekkis Watermark plugin 0.9.2 for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the pfad parameter 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 • 05/08/2026
The CVE-2013-1758 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Marekkis Watermark WordPress plugin version 0.9.2, demonstrating a fundamental weakness in web application input validation and output encoding mechanisms. This vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's handling of user-supplied parameters within the WordPress administration interface, creating a persistent security risk that can be exploited by remote attackers without requiring authentication or privileged access. The flaw exists in the pfad parameter processing within the wp-admin/options-general.php endpoint, where the application fails to properly sanitize or escape user input before rendering it in the web page context.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation practices that allow malicious payloads to be injected and subsequently executed within the browser context of authenticated WordPress administrators. When the plugin processes the pfad parameter without adequate sanitization, it creates an environment where attacker-controlled data can be interpreted as executable script code rather than mere data. This misconfiguration aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities arising from insufficient input validation and output encoding. The vulnerability operates at the application layer where user-supplied data flows directly into HTML output without proper context-aware encoding, making it susceptible to exploitation through various XSS vectors including reflected, stored, and DOM-based attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent access to WordPress administrator accounts through session hijacking, credential theft, or privilege escalation techniques. Once exploited, the malicious script can perform actions such as creating new administrator accounts, modifying plugin configurations, accessing sensitive data, or redirecting users to malicious websites. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it targets the WordPress administration interface where high-privilege operations occur, potentially allowing attackers to compromise entire WordPress installations and gain control over website content management systems. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell, as the malicious scripts can execute commands on the victim's browser and potentially establish further attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-1758 should focus on immediate plugin updates to versions that address the input validation flaws, while also implementing comprehensive input sanitization measures throughout the WordPress installation. Organizations should deploy web application firewalls to detect and block malicious parameter injections, implement proper output encoding for all dynamic content, and establish regular security auditing procedures to identify similar vulnerabilities. The remediation process must include thorough patch management protocols to ensure all WordPress plugins and themes are kept current with security updates, as well as network segmentation and monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts. Additionally, administrators should implement the principle of least privilege by restricting plugin installation permissions and regularly reviewing plugin configurations to minimize potential attack surfaces. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and the necessity of thorough security testing for third-party components integrated into web applications.