CVE-2014-125109 in Portfolio Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/26/2023
A vulnerability was found in BestWebSoft Portfolio Plugin up to 2.27. It has been declared as problematic. This vulnerability affects the function bws_add_menu_render of the file bws_menu/bws_menu.php. The manipulation of the argument bwsmn_form_email leads to cross site scripting. The attack can be initiated remotely. Upgrading to version 2.28 is able to address this issue. The name of the patch is d2ede580474665af56ff262a05783fbabe4529b8. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component. The identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-248956.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-125109 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the BestWebSoft Portfolio Plugin version 2.27 and earlier. This security weakness resides in the bws_add_menu_render function located within the bws_menu/bws_menu.php file, making it a critical concern for WordPress plugin users. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the bwsmn_form_email argument is manipulated, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary web scripts within the context of affected users' browsers. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments and T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration from authenticated users. Remote exploitation capabilities mean that attackers can initiate the attack without requiring physical access to the target system, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in web application environments. The vulnerability affects WordPress sites using the affected plugin version, potentially compromising the entire WordPress installation if proper security measures are not in place. The attack vector allows for persistent malicious code execution that can remain active until the plugin is updated or the affected page is refreshed, creating a prolonged threat window for attackers.
Security remediation for this vulnerability requires immediate action through the recommended upgrade to version 2.28 of the BestWebSoft Portfolio Plugin. The specific patch identified by the commit hash d2ede580474665af56ff262a05783fbabe4529b8 addresses the root cause of the XSS vulnerability by properly sanitizing the bwsmn_form_email parameter before processing. Organizations should implement a comprehensive update strategy that includes verifying plugin integrity, checking for compatibility with existing themes and other plugins, and monitoring for any potential side effects from the upgrade. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls, content security policies, and regular security audits can provide additional layers of protection against similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of keeping all WordPress plugins current and following secure coding practices to prevent injection attacks that could compromise entire web applications.