CVE-2014-10386 in wp-live-chat-support Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The wp-live-chat-support plugin before 4.1.0 for WordPress has JavaScript injections.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/28/2023
The wp-live-chat-support plugin vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw that affected versions prior to 4.1.0 within the WordPress ecosystem. This security weakness resides in the plugin's handling of user-supplied input within JavaScript contexts, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary code into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization and validation of input parameters that are subsequently rendered in JavaScript execution contexts without proper encoding or filtering mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this flaw demonstrates a classic XSS vulnerability pattern where user-controllable data flows directly into JavaScript code execution without appropriate security controls. Attackers could exploit this by crafting malicious input that gets processed by the plugin and subsequently executed in the browser context of other users. The vulnerability specifically impacts the plugin's live chat functionality where user messages, names, or other interactive elements are not properly escaped before being embedded in JavaScript code blocks. This allows threat actors to inject malicious scripts that can steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform other harmful actions within the victim's browser session.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it creates persistent security risks for WordPress sites utilizing the affected plugin version. When exploited, the vulnerability enables attackers to establish footholds within user sessions, potentially leading to account takeovers, data exfiltration, or further lateral movement within compromised networks. The widespread adoption of WordPress and its plugin ecosystem means that vulnerable sites could be targeted at scale, with the attack surface expanding to include all users interacting through the live chat functionality. This vulnerability particularly affects business environments where real-time customer support systems are deployed, as the chat functionality often handles sensitive user information and may be accessed by multiple concurrent users.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate plugin updates to version 4.1.0 or later, which incorporates proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Security teams should implement comprehensive monitoring for any suspicious activity related to chat functionality and user session data. Additionally, organizations should enforce strict input validation policies and consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution contexts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566, specifically focusing on the initial access phase through malicious web content. Regular security audits of WordPress plugins and maintaining updated security patches form essential defensive measures against similar vulnerabilities in the future.