CVE-2014-4563 in URL Cloak
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in go.php in the URL Cloak & Encrypt (url-cloak-encrypt) plugin 2.0 and earlier for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the url parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/06/2018
The CVE-2014-4563 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the URL Cloak & Encrypt WordPress plugin version 2.0 and earlier. This vulnerability resides in the go.php script which processes URL parameters without proper input sanitization, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected websites. The vulnerability specifically targets the url parameter handling mechanism, allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads that can persist and execute whenever the vulnerable page is accessed.
This XSS vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration CWE-79 category, which classifies it as a failure to sanitize user input before incorporating it into web pages. The flaw enables attackers to bypass standard security measures by exploiting the plugin's lack of proper output encoding and input validation. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects WordPress installations where the URL Cloak & Encrypt plugin is active, potentially compromising thousands of websites that rely on this popular plugin for URL obfuscation and security purposes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or even execute more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft. The vulnerability affects not only the end users who might inadvertently click on malicious links but also the website administrators whose systems could be compromised. The attack vector is straightforward - an attacker simply needs to craft a malicious URL containing the XSS payload and distribute it through various channels, including social media, email campaigns, or compromised websites.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which covers phishing with malicious attachments, and T1566.002, which involves spearphishing with malicious links. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to create convincing phishing campaigns that appear legitimate while simultaneously compromising the target website. The vulnerability's persistence is particularly concerning as the malicious scripts would execute every time a user accesses the affected URL, potentially leading to long-term compromise of user sessions and data exfiltration.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-4563 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the XSS vulnerability, as well as implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Website administrators should also consider implementing content security policies to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts, while monitoring for suspicious traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security audits of installed plugins and themes should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date software and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against persistent threats.