CVE-2014-4592 in WP-Planet Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in rss.class/scripts/magpie_debug.php in the WP-Planet plugin 0.1 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 • 03/18/2024
The CVE-2014-4592 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the WP-Planet plugin version 0.1 and earlier for WordPress platforms. This vulnerability specifically affects the rss.class/scripts/magpie_debug.php component within the plugin's architecture, creating a significant security risk for WordPress websites that utilize this particular plugin version. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly process user-supplied data, particularly when the url parameter is manipulated by malicious actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through the improper handling of the url parameter within the magpie_debug.php script. When a remote attacker crafts malicious input and submits it through this parameter, the application fails to sanitize or escape the content before incorporating it into the web page response. This allows attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code that executes within the context of other users' browsers who visit the affected pages. The vulnerability is classified as a reflected XSS attack since the malicious payload is reflected back to users through the application's response without being stored on the server.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risks for WordPress website administrators and their users. Attackers can exploit this flaw to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, redirect victims to malicious websites, or even install malware on affected systems. The vulnerability affects any WordPress installation running the vulnerable WP-Planet plugin version, making it particularly dangerous given the widespread adoption of WordPress as a content management platform. The attack vector requires minimal technical expertise, making it accessible to a broad range of threat actors from script kiddies to sophisticated attackers.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and it maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1566 for initial access through malicious web content and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage. Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately upgrade to a patched version of the WP-Planet plugin, implement proper input validation measures, and consider deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in the url parameter usage, and regular security audits should be conducted to identify other potential XSS vulnerabilities within the WordPress ecosystem. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patched version properly handles all user inputs without introducing new security flaws.