CVE-2013-7478 in events-manager Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The events-manager plugin before 5.5 for WordPress has XSS via EM_Ticket::get_post.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/08/2024
The CVE-2013-7478 vulnerability affects the Events Manager plugin for WordPress, specifically versions prior to 5.5, and represents a cross-site scripting flaw that could enable attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a victim's browser. This vulnerability resides within the EM_Ticket::get_post method, which is responsible for retrieving ticket-related data within the plugin's functionality. The issue stems from insufficient input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms, allowing malicious actors to inject harmful scripts that persist in the plugin's data handling processes. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it targets a core component of the Events Manager plugin that manages event ticketing systems, making it a potential vector for widespread impact across WordPress installations using this plugin.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when user-supplied data is not properly sanitized before being rendered in the web page context. The EM_Ticket::get_post method fails to adequately escape output, creating an environment where malicious payloads can be stored and subsequently executed when the data is displayed to authenticated users. This type of flaw falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically representing a stored XSS vulnerability where the malicious script is stored on the server and executed whenever the affected page is loaded. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by crafting malicious input during ticket creation or management processes, which then gets stored in the database and executed when other users view the ticket information or event details.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-7478 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, manipulate event data, or even escalate privileges within the WordPress environment. When authenticated users view pages containing the maliciously injected scripts, the attacker's code executes in their browser context, potentially allowing for session cookie theft, redirection to malicious sites, or data exfiltration. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where administrators or event managers regularly interact with ticket information, as these users may have elevated privileges that could be compromised. Additionally, since the plugin handles event ticketing data, attackers could potentially manipulate ticket availability, pricing, or access controls, leading to financial losses or unauthorized access to event resources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-7478 primarily involve immediate patching of the Events Manager plugin to version 5.5 or later, where the XSS vulnerability has been addressed through proper input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms. System administrators should also implement additional security measures such as input validation at multiple layers, output encoding for all dynamic content, and regular security audits of WordPress plugins. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper security practices in web application development, particularly around data handling and output rendering. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious script injections, and establish monitoring procedures to identify unauthorized modifications to event data. Security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments of their WordPress installations to identify and remediate similar issues before they can be exploited by threat actors. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059.008 technique for Scripting, specifically targeting the execution of malicious scripts through web application vulnerabilities.