CVE-2015-10093 in Mark User as Spammer Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/06/2023
A vulnerability was found in Mark User as Spammer Plugin 1.0.0/1.0.1. It has been declared as problematic. Affected by this vulnerability is the function user_row_actions of the file plugin/plugin.php. The manipulation of the argument url leads to cross site scripting. The attack can be launched remotely. Upgrading to version 1.0.2 is able to address this issue. The name of the patch is e7059727274d2767c240c55c02c163eaa4ba6c62. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component. The identifier VDB-222325 was assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/31/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-10093 affects the Mark User as Spammer plugin version 1.0.0 and 1.0.1, representing a critical cross-site scripting vulnerability that compromises the security of WordPress installations. This issue resides within the user_row_actions function located in the plugin/plugin.php file, where improper input validation allows malicious actors to inject malicious scripts through the url argument parameter. The vulnerability's classification as a remote attack vector means that threat actors can exploit this weakness without requiring local access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for widely used plugins. The specific technical flaw manifests when user-supplied input is directly incorporated into HTML output without adequate sanitization or encoding, creating an environment where attacker-controlled data can be executed in the context of other users' browsers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and unauthorized administrative actions within the compromised WordPress environment. According to CWE classification, this represents a CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability, which falls under the broader category of web application security flaws that have been consistently identified as one of the most prevalent threats in web applications. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this vulnerability under T1190: Exploit Public-Facing Application, where adversaries leverage publicly accessible web applications to establish initial access. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can craft malicious URLs that, when visited by authenticated users, would execute arbitrary JavaScript code in their browsers, potentially leading to complete compromise of user sessions and access to sensitive administrative functions.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability requires immediate upgrading to version 1.0.2 of the Mark User as Spammer plugin, with the specific patch identified as e7059727274d2767c240c55c02c163eaa4ba6c62. This upgrade addresses the core input validation issue by implementing proper sanitization of the url argument before it is processed and rendered in the user_row_actions function. Security practitioners should also consider implementing additional defensive measures such as content security policies, input validation at multiple layers, and regular security audits of third-party plugins. Organizations maintaining WordPress installations should establish comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure timely deployment of security updates, particularly for plugins that handle user data or provide administrative functionality. The vulnerability identifier VDB-222325 assigned to this issue further emphasizes the need for proper vulnerability tracking and management within security operations centers, as it represents a known weakness that requires immediate attention to prevent exploitation by threat actors who may be actively scanning for vulnerable WordPress installations.