CVE-2015-20019 in Content text slider on post Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/01/2021
The Content text slider on post WordPress plugin before 6.9 does not sanitise and escape the Title and Message/Content settings, which could lead to Cross-Site Scripting issues
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/30/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-20019 affects the Content text slider on post WordPress plugin version 6.8 and earlier, representing a critical cross-site scripting weakness that stems from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms. This flaw resides within the plugin's handling of user-provided content fields, specifically the Title and Message/Content settings that administrators can configure through the WordPress dashboard. The vulnerability manifests when malicious actors craft specially crafted script code within these editable fields, which then gets executed in the browsers of unsuspecting users who view the affected content. The absence of proper sanitization processes means that HTML and JavaScript code entered by users is directly rendered without appropriate filtering or encoding, creating an environment where attackers can inject malicious payloads that persist across user sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and demonstrates how insufficient input validation can create persistent security risks within content management systems. The plugin's failure to properly escape output data when displaying user-entered content creates a direct pathway for attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of the victim's browser. This vulnerability operates under the principle that user-provided content should never be trusted and must always be properly sanitized before being processed or displayed. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it leverages the administrative capabilities of the WordPress platform, where legitimate users with appropriate permissions can inadvertently introduce malicious code that affects all visitors to the site.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of website content, and redirection to malicious sites. When exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate the content displayed on WordPress posts, potentially altering the perceived authenticity of information and creating confusion among users. The persistent nature of the vulnerability means that once an attacker successfully injects malicious code, it remains active until the plugin is updated or the affected content fields are manually corrected. This creates a long-term security risk for WordPress installations that fail to apply the necessary patches, as the malicious code can continue to affect users indefinitely without proper remediation.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigation strategies including updating to version 6.9 or later of the Content text slider on post plugin, which contains the necessary sanitization and escaping fixes. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing content security policies and regular security audits of plugin configurations to identify potentially compromised settings. The vulnerability underscores the importance of following secure coding practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and the CWE guidelines, emphasizing the need for proper input validation, output encoding, and defense-in-depth strategies. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while maintaining comprehensive backup and recovery procedures to address potential damage from successful attacks.