CVE-2014-100016 in Photocati
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in photocrati-gallery/ecomm-sizes.php in the Photocrati theme for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the prod_id parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/20/2024
The CVE-2014-100016 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Photocrati theme for WordPress, specifically affecting the photocrati-gallery/ecomm-sizes.php script. This vulnerability resides in the handling of user-supplied input through the prod_id parameter, which is processed without adequate sanitization or validation. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected websites, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity. The vulnerability directly impacts the security posture of WordPress installations utilizing the Photocrati theme, particularly those with e-commerce functionality that rely on product identification parameters.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the ecomm-sizes.php file where the prod_id parameter is directly incorporated into dynamic web content without appropriate HTML escaping or sanitization mechanisms. When a user accesses a page that processes this parameter, the malicious payload embedded within prod_id executes in the browser context of other users who visit the same page. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution. The vulnerability is classified as a reflected XSS attack since the malicious script is reflected back to the user through the web application's response.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious sites. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing script payloads that, when clicked by unsuspecting users, execute in their browser context and potentially steal cookies, session tokens, or other sensitive information. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in e-commerce environments where users may be logged into administrative panels or shopping carts, as successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized transactions or complete account takeovers. Additionally, the attack surface is broad since any page utilizing the Photocrati theme's gallery functionality could serve as an attack vector.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-100016 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected WordPress theme to ensure proper input validation and sanitization of the prod_id parameter. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation that strips or escapes special characters, particularly those used in HTML and JavaScript contexts such as angle brackets, quotes, and script tags. The implementation of Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures by restricting script execution and preventing unauthorized code injection. Regular security auditing of WordPress themes and plugins should be conducted to identify similar input validation flaws, and developers should follow secure coding practices including the principle of least privilege when processing user input. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious parameter patterns that may indicate attempted exploitation of similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of keeping all WordPress components updated and implementing proper access controls to minimize the impact of potential exploitation attempts.