CVE-2014-4594 in WordPress Responsive Preview
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in the WordPress Responsive Preview plugin before 1.2 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 • 03/04/2018
The CVE-2014-4594 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the WordPress Responsive Preview plugin, which affected versions prior to 1.2. This vulnerability resides in the index.php file and specifically targets the url parameter handling mechanism. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the plugin's codebase, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML content within the context of affected WordPress installations. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it operates at the application layer, allowing attackers to manipulate user sessions and potentially escalate privileges through the exploitation of this XSS vector. The responsive preview functionality, designed to help users test how their websites appear across different devices and screen sizes, inadvertently created a security gap that could be leveraged for malicious purposes.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in software applications. The technical implementation of the flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices where user-supplied data from the url parameter is directly incorporated into the page output without proper sanitization or encoding. Attackers could craft malicious URLs containing script tags or other HTML content that would be executed when users visited the affected pages. The vulnerability operates under the principle of untrusted data being processed and rendered without adequate security measures, making it susceptible to exploitation by remote attackers who do not require any authentication credentials. The attack vector is particularly insidious as it can be delivered through social engineering tactics, where users might be tricked into clicking malicious links that appear legitimate.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable more sophisticated attacks including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious sites. When users visit compromised pages, their browser sessions could be compromised, allowing attackers to impersonate legitimate users and perform unauthorized actions within the WordPress environment. The vulnerability affects not only the end users but also the administrators who may be tricked into visiting malicious links, potentially leading to complete system compromise. Additionally, the vulnerability could be exploited to deface websites, inject malware, or redirect traffic to phishing sites, making it a significant threat to both individual users and organizations relying on WordPress for their web presence. The widespread adoption of WordPress makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it affects a large number of websites that may be running vulnerable versions of the plugin.
The recommended mitigations for CVE-2014-4594 include immediate upgrading to version 1.2 or later of the WordPress Responsive Preview plugin, which contains the necessary security patches to address the input validation issues. Organizations should implement proper input sanitization techniques, including the use of output encoding and validation of all user-supplied parameters before they are processed or rendered. The principle of least privilege should be applied to plugin installations, ensuring that only necessary permissions are granted to third-party components. Security monitoring should be implemented to detect unusual traffic patterns or attempts to exploit known vulnerabilities. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues in other plugins or themes. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059 technique for command and scripting interpreter, as it allows attackers to execute malicious code through web-based interfaces. Additionally, the vulnerability falls under T1566 for credential access through social engineering, as it often requires user interaction to be effective. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional layers of protection against such attacks.