CVE-2014-2297 in Live Streaming Integration plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the VideoWhisper Live Streaming Integration plugin 4.29.6 for WordPress allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) n parameter to ls/htmlchat.php or (2) bgcolor parameter to ls/index.php. NOTE: vector 1 may overlap CVE-2014-1906.4.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/14/2020
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-2297 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness within the VideoWhisper Live Streaming Integration plugin version 4.29.6 for WordPress systems. This flaw exists in the plugin's handling of user-supplied input parameters, creating opportunities for remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of affected websites. The vulnerability manifests through two distinct attack vectors that target different endpoints within the plugin's architecture, demonstrating the complexity of input validation failures in web applications. The presence of overlapping vectors with CVE-2014-1906.4 suggests this represents a broader class of input sanitization issues within the plugin's codebase, potentially affecting multiple components simultaneously.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the plugin's php files. When the n parameter is passed to ls/htmlchat.php or the bgcolor parameter is submitted to ls/index.php, the application fails to properly sanitize these inputs before incorporating them into web responses. This allows attackers to inject malicious javascript code or html content that gets executed in the browsers of unsuspecting users who visit affected pages. The vulnerability specifically relates to CWE-79 which defines Cross-Site Scripting flaws as the improper handling of input data that is directly reflected back to users without adequate sanitization or encoding. The attack vectors exploit the fundamental weakness in the plugin's parameter processing logic, where user input is treated as trusted content rather than potentially malicious data requiring validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities through compromised user sessions. An attacker could potentially steal user cookies, session tokens, or personal information from authenticated users, leading to account takeovers and unauthorized access to sensitive data. The vulnerability affects any WordPress installation using the vulnerable VideoWhisper plugin version, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users interact with the streaming platform. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from anywhere on the internet without requiring local system access, and the injection can persist across multiple user sessions until the vulnerable plugin is updated or removed.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action from system administrators to address the root cause through proper input sanitization and output encoding practices. The most effective immediate solution involves updating the VideoWhisper plugin to a patched version that properly validates and encodes all user-supplied parameters before processing. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation routines that reject or sanitize any input containing potentially dangerous characters or script tags. Security measures should include the implementation of Content Security Policies to prevent unauthorized script execution, and regular security audits of plugin installations to identify similar vulnerabilities. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which describes the use of web application vulnerabilities for initial access and privilege escalation, emphasizing the need for robust web application security controls and regular patch management procedures to prevent such exploitation scenarios.