CVE-2014-10380 in profile-builder Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The profile-builder plugin before 1.1.66 for WordPress has multiple XSS issues in forms.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/28/2023
The CVE-2014-10380 vulnerability affects the profile-builder plugin version 1.1.65 and earlier for WordPress, representing a significant cross-site scripting weakness that impacts user authentication and profile management functionalities. This vulnerability exists within the plugin's form processing mechanisms and allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into user profile forms, potentially compromising the entire WordPress installation. The issue stems from inadequate input sanitization and output encoding practices within the plugin's codebase, creating persistent XSS vectors that can be exploited by malicious actors to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of authenticated users' browsers.
The technical flaw manifests in multiple form elements within the profile-builder plugin where user inputs are not properly validated or escaped before being rendered back to users. This vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's profile management interface and registration forms, enabling attackers to inject malicious payloads through fields such as name, email, and custom profile fields. The vulnerability is classified as CWE-79 - Cross-site Scripting, which is a well-known weakness in web applications where user-provided data is directly embedded into web pages without proper sanitization. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform session hijacking, steal cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or even escalate privileges within the WordPress environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-10380 extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to user accounts and potentially compromise the entire WordPress installation. When users with administrative privileges interact with the vulnerable forms, attackers can execute malicious scripts that may lead to full system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the profile management functionality, which is frequently accessed by users, making it an attractive target for exploitation. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, as it enables execution of malicious JavaScript code within user browsers, and T1566 - Phishing, since attackers can craft malicious forms to deceive users into executing harmful scripts.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of the profile-builder plugin to version 1.1.66 or later, where the XSS issues have been resolved through proper input validation and output escaping mechanisms. Administrators should also implement additional security measures such as Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, regular security audits of WordPress plugins, and monitoring for suspicious form submissions. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices in web applications, particularly in authentication and profile management systems where user data is frequently processed. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular vulnerability scanning to detect similar issues in other plugins or custom code that may be vulnerable to cross-site scripting attacks.