CVE-2014-4602 in XEN Carousel
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in xencarousel-admin.js.php in the XEN Carousel plugin 0.12.2 and earlier for WordPress allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) path or (2) ajaxpath parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/01/2017
The CVE-2014-4602 vulnerability resides within the XEN Carousel plugin for WordPress, specifically in the xencarousel-admin.js.php file affecting versions 0.12.2 and earlier. This represents a critical security flaw that exposes WordPress installations to cross-site scripting attacks through improper input validation and sanitization mechanisms. The vulnerability manifests when the plugin fails to adequately sanitize user-supplied parameters before incorporating them into dynamic JavaScript code generation, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary scripts within the context of authenticated admin sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves two primary attack vectors through the path and ajaxpath parameters that are directly processed without proper validation. When these parameters are passed to the xencarousel-admin.js.php script, the plugin's code concatenates them directly into JavaScript output without appropriate escaping or sanitization. This creates a classic reflected XSS scenario where attacker-controlled content is injected into the admin interface, potentially allowing for session hijacking, privilege escalation, or data exfiltration. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no special privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by remote attackers without authentication.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-4602 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can lead to complete administrative compromise of affected WordPress sites. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent backdoors, modify content, steal administrator credentials, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The reflected nature of the XSS means that successful exploitation can occur through social engineering techniques such as phishing emails containing malicious links, or through compromised websites that redirect users to exploit the vulnerability. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script execution and T1566 for phishing attacks that could lead to exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action including updating to the latest version of the XEN Carousel plugin where the XSS flaws have been patched through proper input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms. Administrators should implement comprehensive input validation that filters and escapes all user-supplied data before processing, particularly for parameters used in dynamic code generation contexts. Additional protective measures include implementing content security policies to limit script execution, monitoring for suspicious administrative activities, and conducting regular security audits of installed plugins. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper sanitization practices in web applications and serves as a reminder that even seemingly benign plugin functionality can introduce significant security risks when input handling is inadequate. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security scanning to detect similar vulnerabilities in other components of their WordPress installations.