CVE-2015-3647 in WordPress Photo Album
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in wppa-ajax-front.php in the WP Photo Album Plus (aka WPPA) plugin before 6.1.3 for WordPress allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) comemail or (2) comname parameter in a wppa do-comment action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/25/2024
The CVE-2015-3647 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the WP Photo Album Plus plugin for WordPress, specifically affecting versions prior to 6.1.3. This vulnerability resides within the wppa-ajax-front.php file and exposes websites to malicious injection attacks through two distinct parameter vectors. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of users' browsers, creating a significant security risk for WordPress site administrators and visitors alike. The vulnerability affects the plugin's comment functionality, where user input is not properly sanitized before being processed and displayed on web pages. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in software applications. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it leverages the plugin's AJAX front-end functionality to deliver malicious payloads without requiring any special privileges or authentication from the attacker. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic input validation failure where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into web responses without adequate sanitization or encoding measures.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2015-3647 occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input containing script tags or HTML elements and submits these through either the comemail or comname parameters during a wppa do-comment action. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation and sanitization of user input within the comment submission process, allowing attackers to inject malicious code that executes in the browsers of other users who view the affected content. When the plugin processes these parameters in the wppa-ajax-front.php file, it fails to properly escape or encode the input data before rendering it in the web page context. This creates a persistent XSS vulnerability where the malicious code can execute in the victim's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the plugin's front-end AJAX interface, making it difficult to detect through standard security monitoring tools and allowing attackers to remain undetected while executing their payloads. The attack can be amplified through social engineering techniques where attackers convince users to click on malicious links or visit compromised pages that trigger the XSS payload.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-3647 extends beyond simple script injection, potentially compromising entire user sessions and enabling sophisticated attack vectors. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal user cookies, session tokens, and potentially gain unauthorized access to WordPress administrative interfaces. The vulnerability also provides a platform for more advanced attacks such as phishing campaigns, where malicious scripts can redirect users to fake login pages or harvest sensitive information. The attack surface is particularly broad since the vulnerability affects the comment system, which is often actively used by website visitors, increasing the likelihood of successful exploitation. Security researchers have categorized this vulnerability as a high-risk issue due to its potential for persistent exploitation and the ease with which attackers can craft malicious payloads. The vulnerability also impacts the overall trust and integrity of the WordPress ecosystem, as compromised plugins can affect multiple websites simultaneously. Organizations using affected versions of the WPPA plugin face significant risk of data breaches, reputational damage, and potential regulatory compliance violations, particularly in environments where user privacy and data protection are paramount. The vulnerability's presence in a widely-used plugin means that the attack impact can be substantial across multiple WordPress installations, making it a prime target for automated exploitation tools.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-3647 require immediate action to address the root cause through proper input validation and output encoding. The most effective solution is to upgrade to WP Photo Album Plus version 6.1.3 or later, which includes proper sanitization of user input parameters. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation measures, including whitelisting acceptable character sets and implementing proper HTML encoding for all user-supplied data. Security configurations should include Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts, and regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins or themes. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and implementing robust security practices such as the principle of least privilege, where user inputs are strictly validated and sanitized before any processing. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious requests targeting known XSS patterns. The remediation process should include thorough testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce compatibility issues with existing website functionality, and security monitoring should be enhanced to detect any attempts at exploiting similar vulnerabilities in the future. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices and regular security assessments in preventing successful exploitation of web application vulnerabilities.