CVE-2013-7319 in Download Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Download Manager plugin before 2.5.9 for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the title field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2025
The CVE-2013-7319 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the WordPress Download Manager plugin prior to version 2.5.9. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting attacks where malicious scripts are injected into web applications. The flaw resides in the plugin's handling of user input within the title field, creating an avenue for remote attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected websites. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects WordPress installations where the Download Manager plugin is actively used, potentially compromising thousands of websites that rely on this popular plugin for file management and distribution.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the plugin's title field processing mechanism. When users submit download titles through the plugin interface, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before rendering it on web pages. This allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that contain script tags or other HTML elements within the title field. Upon successful exploitation, these payloads execute in the browsers of other users who view the affected download entries, enabling attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability is classified as a reflected XSS attack since the malicious code is reflected back to users through the plugin's output mechanism rather than being stored in a database.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-7319 extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with significant opportunities to compromise entire WordPress installations and user sessions. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal administrator credentials, modify download content, or redirect users to phishing sites that mimic legitimate WordPress interfaces. The widespread adoption of the Download Manager plugin means that this vulnerability affected numerous websites across different industries, from small blogs to enterprise-level organizations relying on WordPress for content management. The vulnerability's remote nature allows attackers to exploit it without requiring any local access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in environments where WordPress sites are publicly accessible. The exploitation process typically involves crafting malicious titles containing script tags, which are then rendered on download listing pages viewed by other users, creating a chain reaction of potential compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-7319 focus primarily on immediate plugin updates to version 2.5.9 or later, which contain proper input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms. System administrators should implement comprehensive input validation that strips or escapes potentially dangerous characters from user submissions, particularly in fields that are rendered as HTML content. The implementation of Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide additional protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Regular security audits of WordPress plugins and themes should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities, with particular attention to input handling mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious input patterns targeting known XSS vulnerabilities. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1213 (Data from Information Repositories) highlights the potential for attackers to extract sensitive information through these XSS vectors, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security measures beyond simple patching. Additionally, user education regarding the risks of clicking on suspicious download links and the importance of keeping WordPress installations updated remains crucial in preventing exploitation of such vulnerabilities.