CVE-2014-4572 in Votecount for Balatarin
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in bvc.php in the Votecount for Balatarin plugin 0.1.1 and earlier for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) url or (2) bvcurl parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/11/2018
The CVE-2014-4572 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Votecount for Balatarin WordPress plugin version 0.1.1 and earlier. This vulnerability exists in the bvc.php script and poses significant security risks to WordPress installations that utilize this plugin. The vulnerability specifically affects the handling of user-supplied input through two distinct parameter names: url and bvcurl, which are processed without proper sanitization or validation mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the plugin's bvc.php file. When remote attackers submit malicious payloads through either the url or bvcurl parameters, the plugin fails to properly sanitize these inputs before incorporating them into the web page output. This lack of proper input sanitization creates an environment where attacker-controlled content can be executed within the context of other users' browsers, enabling malicious code injection attacks that can persist across multiple user sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can be leveraged for various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious websites. Attackers can craft malicious URLs that, when visited by unsuspecting users, execute scripts that steal cookies, modify page content, or redirect users to phishing sites. The vulnerability affects the entire WordPress ecosystem that relies on this plugin, potentially compromising thousands of websites that have not updated to patched versions.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in preventing malicious code execution. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving code injection and credential access, as attackers can leverage XSS to obtain user session tokens and escalate privileges. The attack vector represents a classic server-side injection vulnerability that exploits the trust relationship between the web application and its users.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate plugin updates to versions that properly sanitize input parameters and implement proper output encoding. Administrators should also consider implementing content security policies to limit script execution and monitor for suspicious user activity. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security audits and prompt patch management, as the affected plugin version was vulnerable for an extended period before remediation became available. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls to detect and block malicious input patterns targeting similar vulnerabilities in their WordPress installations.