CVE-2014-4604 in Your-text-manager
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in settings/pwsettings.php in the Your Text Manager plugin 0.3.0 and earlier for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the ytmpw parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/11/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4604 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Your Text Manager WordPress plugin version 0.3.0 and earlier. This security weakness resides in the settings/pwsettings.php file where user input is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to the browser. The specific parameter affected is ytmpw which handles password settings within the plugin's administrative interface. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious scripts within the ytmpw parameter value, which then gets executed in the context of other users' browsers who visit pages containing the vulnerable code. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which defines the common weakness of cross-site scripting where web applications fail to properly validate or escape user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code within users' browser sessions. When an authenticated administrator or user visits a page that processes the malicious ytmpw parameter, the injected script executes in their browser context, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect them to malicious sites. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in a WordPress environment where administrators often have elevated privileges and access to sensitive configuration data. This XSS weakness enables attackers to escalate their privileges or gain unauthorized access to the WordPress administrative interface, making it a critical security concern for any site running the affected plugin version.
Security professionals should recognize that this vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and highlights the importance of implementing proper output encoding and sanitization mechanisms. The attack surface is primarily limited to the plugin's administrative settings page where the ytmpw parameter is processed, but the potential for damage extends to any user who interacts with the vulnerable functionality. Organizations should consider this vulnerability in the context of broader ATT&CK framework tactics where XSS flaws are commonly used for initial access and privilege escalation. The remediation strategy involves immediate plugin updates to versions that properly sanitize user input and implement proper HTML escaping for all dynamic content. Additionally, implementing content security policies and regular security audits of WordPress plugins can prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future. The vulnerability also underscores the need for proper security testing during plugin development and the importance of maintaining up-to-date software to mitigate known security risks.