CVE-2014-8492 in Profile Builder Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in assets/misc/fallback-page.php in the Profile Builder plugin before 2.0.3 for WordPress allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) site_name, (2) message, or (3) site_url parameter.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/22/2019
The CVE-2014-8492 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the Profile Builder WordPress plugin, affecting versions prior to 2.0.3. This vulnerability resides within the assets/misc/fallback-page.php file and demonstrates a classic input validation weakness that allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of affected websites. The vulnerability specifically targets three parameters: site_name, message, and site_url, all of which are processed without adequate sanitization or output encoding, creating persistent XSS attack vectors that can compromise user sessions and data integrity.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows standard XSS attack patterns where malicious input is injected into the targeted parameters and subsequently rendered on web pages without proper HTML escaping or context-appropriate encoding. When users visit pages that display these unfiltered parameters, the injected scripts execute in their browsers, potentially stealing cookies, session tokens, or performing unauthorized actions on behalf of victims. This flaw directly aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious web content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, deface websites, redirect users to malicious sites, or harvest sensitive user information. WordPress sites utilizing the vulnerable Profile Builder plugin become potential entry points for broader attacks, as compromised user sessions can lead to privilege escalation and further system infiltration. The vulnerability affects not only individual users but also website administrators who may unknowingly execute malicious code when viewing compromised fallback pages, creating a chain reaction that can compromise entire WordPress installations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-8492 require immediate patching of the Profile Builder plugin to version 2.0.3 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Administrators should implement comprehensive security monitoring to detect any signs of exploitation attempts and consider deploying web application firewalls to filter malicious payloads. Additionally, regular security audits of WordPress plugins and themes should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities, while input validation should be strengthened across all user-controllable parameters to prevent similar issues. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of keeping WordPress plugins updated and following secure coding practices that prevent XSS through proper parameter validation and output encoding.