CVE-2014-4574 in WebEngage
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in resize.php in the WebEngage plugin before 2.0.1 for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the height parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/11/2019
The CVE-2014-4574 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the WebEngage WordPress plugin ecosystem, specifically affecting versions prior to 2.0.1. This vulnerability resides in the resize.php script which is part of the plugin's functionality for managing media resizing operations. The flaw manifests when the plugin fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input parameters, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts within the context of a victim's browser session. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it operates at the core of web application security principles, allowing remote attackers to bypass standard security measures and inject malicious code directly into web pages viewed by end users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and output encoding practices within the WebEngage plugin's resize.php component. Attackers can exploit this by manipulating the height parameter through HTTP requests, injecting malicious HTML or JavaScript code that gets executed when the vulnerable page loads. This represents a classic reflected cross-site scripting attack vector where the malicious payload is reflected back to the user through the application's response. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79 as "Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')", which specifically addresses the failure to properly encode or escape user-controllable data before incorporating it into web page content. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental weakness in the plugin's data handling procedures, where input validation occurs too late in the processing pipeline or not at all.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform various malicious activities within the context of authenticated user sessions. An attacker could potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, deface the affected WordPress installation, or even escalate privileges if the victim is an administrator. The vulnerability affects the entire WordPress ecosystem where the WebEngage plugin is installed, making it a significant concern for site administrators who may not be aware of the specific plugin's exposure. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for "Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment" and T1566.002 for "Phishing: Spearphishing Link" as attackers can craft malicious URLs that exploit this vulnerability to deliver payloads to unsuspecting users. The attack surface is particularly broad since WordPress installations are widely deployed across various industries, making this vulnerability attractive to threat actors seeking widespread impact.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-4574 require immediate action from system administrators to upgrade the WebEngage plugin to version 2.0.1 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the input validation issues. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures including proper escaping of special characters and validation of all user-supplied parameters before processing. The implementation of Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other plugins and themes. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and implementing automated patch management processes. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious patterns in web traffic that may indicate exploitation attempts, and access controls should be reviewed to ensure that only authorized personnel can modify plugin configurations. The remediation process should include thorough testing of the updated plugin to ensure that the XSS vulnerability is completely resolved while maintaining all intended functionality.