CVE-2014-4603 in Yahoo! Updates For Wordpress Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in yupdates_application.php in the Yahoo! Updates for WordPress plugin 1.0 and earlier for WordPress allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) secret, (2) key, or (3) appid parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/06/2018
The vulnerability CVE-2014-4603 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the Yahoo! Updates for WordPress plugin version 1.0 and earlier. This vulnerability resides within the yupdates_application.php file and affects WordPress installations that utilize this specific plugin. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of users' browsers, creating a significant security risk for WordPress site administrators and visitors. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects parameters that are likely used for authentication or application identification purposes, making it a prime target for exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the plugin's PHP code. Attackers can manipulate three specific parameters - secret, key, and appid - to inject malicious scripts that will execute when the affected page is rendered. These parameters appear to be used for authenticating with Yahoo's services or identifying the application instance, but the plugin fails to properly escape or validate user-supplied input before incorporating it into the HTML output. This lack of proper sanitization creates an environment where attacker-controlled data can be interpreted as executable code rather than mere data, enabling the execution of arbitrary scripts in the victim's browser context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can lead to complete session hijacking, credential theft, and unauthorized administrative actions. When a user visits a page that processes the vulnerable parameters, the injected scripts can steal cookies, session tokens, or other sensitive information from the user's browser. Additionally, attackers can leverage this vulnerability to redirect users to malicious sites, deface the website, or even install malware on the user's system. The vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 1.0, indicating a long-standing issue that was not properly addressed in the plugin's development lifecycle, making it a persistent threat for WordPress installations that have not updated to newer versions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the affected WordPress plugin, as the vulnerability exists in versions 1.0 and earlier. Organizations should also implement input validation at multiple levels, including server-side sanitization of all parameters before they are processed or displayed. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script execution by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and it maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can use the XSS vulnerability to execute malicious commands through the web interface. Regular security audits and automated vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar issues in other WordPress plugins and themes, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization in web applications.