CVE-2015-3299 in Floating Social Bar Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Floating Social Bar plugin before 1.1.7 for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors related to original service order.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/13/2021
The CVE-2015-3299 vulnerability represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the Floating Social Bar plugin for WordPress systems prior to version 1.1.7. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting attacks where malicious scripts can be injected into web applications. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the plugin's handling of social media service configurations. Attackers can exploit this weakness by manipulating the original service order parameters that the plugin uses to display social sharing buttons, thereby enabling them to inject arbitrary HTML and JavaScript code into the victim's browser environment.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the Floating Social Bar plugin fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input that determines the order and configuration of social media services. When administrators configure the plugin to display various social sharing buttons, the original service order parameter becomes a vector for injection attacks. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the user interface level where legitimate users interact with social media sharing functionality. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of the victim's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the user.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains that leverage the compromised WordPress installation. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially gain access to administrative functions if the victim is a site administrator, or can manipulate the social sharing functionality to redirect users to malicious websites. The vulnerability affects WordPress installations where the Floating Social Bar plugin is active, making it particularly concerning for content management systems that rely heavily on social media integration. The attack surface is broadened by the fact that many WordPress sites use this plugin for social sharing, and the vulnerability can be exploited without requiring authentication or privileged access to the WordPress system itself.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-3299 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to version 1.1.7 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the input validation issues. System administrators should implement proper input sanitization measures and output encoding for all user-supplied data that influences plugin behavior. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring that plugin configurations are restricted to authorized administrators only, and that regular security audits are conducted to identify potentially vulnerable components. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and content security policies can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Organizations should also consider monitoring for suspicious plugin configurations and user activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering tactics, particularly focusing on the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access or execute malicious code through user interaction with compromised interfaces.