CVE-2014-4553 in WP-RSS-Spreadshirt-3DCube-Gallery Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site Scripting (XSS) in the spreadshirt-rss-3d-cube-flash-gallery plugin 2014 for WordPress allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/25/2025
The CVE-2014-4553 vulnerability represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the spreadshirt-rss-3d-cube-flash-gallery plugin version 2014 for WordPress platforms. This particular vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws identified in the industry. The vulnerability exists in the plugin's handling of user-supplied input parameters, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The affected plugin specifically processes RSS feeds and displays them in a 3D flash gallery format, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to exploit web application vulnerabilities in content management systems.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the plugin fails to properly sanitize or validate input parameters received from external sources or user interactions. Attackers can craft malicious payloads containing script tags or other HTML content that gets executed in the context of other users' browsers when they view the affected gallery. This typically happens through manipulation of URL parameters, form inputs, or RSS feed data that the plugin processes. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates within the WordPress ecosystem where plugins often have elevated privileges and can access sensitive user data or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The attack vector involves delivering malicious content through the plugin's RSS feed processing functionality, which then gets rendered in the flash-based 3D gallery interface.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-4553 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of content, or redirection to malicious sites. When exploited successfully, the vulnerability can allow attackers to establish persistent access to affected WordPress installations, particularly if the plugin is used in environments with multiple users or administrators. The attack may lead to complete compromise of the affected WordPress site, enabling unauthorized modifications to content, data exfiltration, or use of the compromised site as a launching point for attacks against other systems. This vulnerability particularly affects WordPress installations where the plugin is actively used to display external content, making it a significant concern for websites that aggregate and display third-party RSS feeds in interactive formats.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate plugin updates or complete removal from affected WordPress installations, as the original vendor likely released patches addressing the XSS flaw. System administrators should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures to prevent similar issues in other parts of their web applications, following the principle of least privilege and input sanitization. The implementation of Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide additional protection against script execution, while regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for scripting languages and T1566 for spearphishing attachments, highlighting the need for layered defensive measures. Security teams should ensure that all WordPress plugins are kept up to date and that proper security configurations are implemented, as this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining secure plugin ecosystems in WordPress environments.