CVE-2015-10118 in WP-CopyProtect
Summary
by MITRE • 06/12/2023
A vulnerability classified as problematic was found in cchetanonline WP-CopyProtect up to 3.0.0. This vulnerability affects the function CopyProtect_options_page of the file wp-copyprotect.php. The manipulation of the argument CopyProtect_nrc_text leads to cross site scripting. The attack can be initiated remotely. Upgrading to version 3.1.0 is able to address this issue. The patch is identified as 8b8fe4102886b326330dc1ff06b17313fb10aee5. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component. VDB-231202 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-10118 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the WP-CopyProtect plugin for WordPress, specifically affecting versions up to 3.0.0. This issue resides in the CopyProtect_options_page function within the wp-copyprotect.php file, where improper input validation allows malicious actors to inject malicious scripts through the CopyProtect_nrc_text argument. The vulnerability's classification as remotely exploitable means that attackers can leverage this weakness without requiring physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in web application environments where user interaction is common.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input within the plugin's administrative interface. When administrators or users interact with the CopyProtect_nrc_text parameter, the application fails to properly escape or validate the input before rendering it back to the browser. This allows attackers to inject malicious javascript code that executes in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further exploitation of the compromised user accounts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks within the WordPress ecosystem. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially escalate privileges, access sensitive administrative functions, or use the compromised system as a stepping stone for broader network attacks. The remote exploit capability means that threat actors can target vulnerable installations from anywhere on the internet, making this vulnerability particularly attractive for automated attack campaigns. This vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices in web application development.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a classic example of how plugin developers must implement robust input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms to prevent XSS attacks. The recommended remediation involves upgrading to version 3.1.0, which contains the patched code identified by the commit hash 8b8fe4102886b326330dc1ff06b17313fb10aee5. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security measures such as web application firewalls, regular security audits of third-party plugins, and comprehensive input validation policies. The vulnerability's classification within the ATT&CK framework would fall under the T1059.007 technique for script injection, specifically targeting web application interfaces. This incident underscores the critical need for maintaining up-to-date software components and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against common web application vulnerabilities that can be exploited through user-facing interfaces.