CVE-2014-4566 in verweise-wordpress-twitter
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in res/fake_twitter/frame.php in the "verwei.se - WordPress - Twitter" (verweise-wordpress-twitter) plugin 1.0.2 and earlier for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the base parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/11/2019
The CVE-2014-4566 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw that existed within the verwei.se - WordPress - Twitter plugin version 1.0.2 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically affects WordPress installations where the plugin is actively deployed, creating a significant security risk for website administrators and their visitors. The flaw manifests in the res/fake_twitter/frame.php file, which processes user input through the base parameter without adequate sanitization or validation mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input handling within the plugin's codebase. When a user provides a value for the base parameter, the application fails to properly escape or filter this input before rendering it within the web page context. This allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary HTML or JavaScript code that executes in the browser context of unsuspecting users. The vulnerability is categorized as a reflected XSS attack since the malicious payload is embedded in the URL and reflected back to the user's browser without proper encoding or validation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for WordPress site owners who have installed the affected plugin. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute malicious scripts in the context of the victim's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can be used to escalate privileges or compromise the entire user session. According to CWE-79, this vulnerability directly maps to the Common Weakness Enumeration for Cross-site Scripting, specifically the reflected variant that occurs when user input is immediately reflected back to the browser without proper sanitization.
The attack vector for CVE-2014-4566 typically involves crafting a malicious URL containing the XSS payload and delivering it to victims through social engineering techniques, phishing emails, or by exploiting other compromised websites. When victims click on the crafted link, the malicious JavaScript code executes in their browser context, potentially stealing cookies, modifying page content, or redirecting users to malicious sites. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering tactics involving malicious links and payloads.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action from affected users. The primary remediation involves upgrading to a patched version of the verwei.se - WordPress - Twitter plugin where the base parameter is properly sanitized and validated. Administrators should also implement Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of inline scripts and restrict the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Additionally, input validation should be implemented at multiple layers including application-level filtering and output encoding to prevent malicious payloads from being executed. Regular security audits and plugin updates form essential components of a comprehensive defense strategy against such vulnerabilities.