CVE-2014-4525 in Ebay Feeds Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in magpie/scripts/magpie_slashbox.php in the Ebay Feeds for WordPress plugin 1.1 and earlier for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the rss_url parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/27/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4525 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Ebay Feeds for WordPress plugin version 1.1 and earlier. This security weakness resides in the magpie/scripts/magpie_slashbox.php file, which processes user input without proper sanitization or validation mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically affects the rss_url parameter, which serves as an entry point for malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code into the targeted WordPress environment. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security that enables attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. When a victim visits a page that utilizes the vulnerable plugin, the injected scripts execute within their browser context, potentially compromising their session cookies, personal information, or even allowing the attacker to perform administrative actions on behalf of the victim. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can exploit it from any location without requiring physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in web applications where user interaction is expected. This flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as it can be leveraged to deliver malicious payloads through compromised feeds or manipulated RSS sources.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2014-4525 requires minimal effort from attackers, as it involves simply crafting a malicious URL parameter that includes script tags or HTML code within the rss_url field. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of input validation and output encoding practices that are fundamental to preventing XSS attacks. WordPress plugin developers must implement proper sanitization of all user-provided input before it is processed or displayed within the web interface. The flaw represents a failure in the principle of least privilege and input validation, where the application assumes that all input from external sources is trustworthy. Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability could be exploited in combination with other techniques to escalate privileges or gain deeper access to the affected WordPress installation. Organizations using the Ebay Feeds plugin version 1.1 or earlier should immediately implement mitigations including input validation, output encoding, and plugin updates to prevent exploitation. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security audits and the need for developers to follow secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and other industry security standards to prevent such flaws from being introduced into web applications.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability involves immediate patching of the Ebay Feeds plugin to version 1.2 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for input sanitization. Additionally, administrators should implement proper content security policies to mitigate the impact of any potential exploitation attempts. Regular security monitoring and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other plugins or themes that may be susceptible to the same class of vulnerability. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software and following secure coding practices to prevent exploitation of input validation flaws in web applications.