CVE-2014-4513 in ActiveHelper LiveHelp Live Chat
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in server/offline.php in the ActiveHelper LiveHelp Live Chat plugin 3.1.0 and earlier for WordPress allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) MESSAGE, (2) EMAIL, or (3) NAME parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/05/2018
The CVE-2014-4513 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the ActiveHelper LiveHelp Live Chat plugin for WordPress, affecting versions 3.1.0 and earlier. This vulnerability resides within the server/offline.php script and demonstrates a classic input validation failure that enables remote code execution through malicious web script injection. The flaw specifically targets three parameter fields including MESSAGE, EMAIL, and NAME, which are processed without adequate sanitization or output encoding, creating persistent XSS attack vectors that can compromise user sessions and data integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the plugin's backend processing logic. When users submit chat messages through the offline contact form, the plugin fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied data before rendering it back to the browser. This creates a persistent cross-site scripting condition where attackers can inject malicious HTML or JavaScript code that executes in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and represents a fundamental failure in secure input handling and output encoding mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-4513 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can facilitate session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration attacks. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can execute malicious scripts that steal cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or inject additional malicious content into the compromised WordPress installation. The vulnerability affects not only individual users but also the entire website ecosystem, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to administrative functions. This type of vulnerability commonly maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which involves the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities for initial access and privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the affected plugin to version 3.1.1 or later, which contains proper input validation and output encoding fixes. Administrators should also implement additional security measures including content security policy headers, regular security audits of installed plugins, and input sanitization routines. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and output encoding as outlined in OWASP Top Ten security practices, particularly addressing the need for comprehensive sanitization of all user-supplied data before processing or display. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious script injection patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts.