CVE-2015-3904 in Roomcloud Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in roomcloud.php in the Roomcloud plugin before 1.3 for WordPress allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) pin, (2) start_day, (3) start_month, (4) start_year, (5) end_day, (6) end_month, (7) end_year, (8) lang, (9) adults, or (10) children parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/19/2022
The CVE-2015-3904 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the Roomcloud WordPress plugin, affecting versions prior to 1.3. This vulnerability resides in the roomcloud.php file and demonstrates a classic input validation failure that enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of affected websites. The vulnerability affects multiple parameters including pin, start_day, start_month, start_year, end_day, end_month, end_year, lang, adults, and children, creating multiple attack vectors for exploitation. The Roomcloud plugin, designed for hotel room booking functionality, improperly processes user input without adequate sanitization, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code that gets executed when other users view the affected pages.
This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79, which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is sent to a web browser without proper validation or escaping. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the plugin handles booking information and user preferences, making it a prime target for malicious actors seeking to compromise user sessions or redirect visitors to malicious sites. The vulnerability enables attackers to execute persistent XSS attacks that can persist across multiple user sessions, potentially allowing for session hijacking, credential theft, or the redirection of users to phishing sites. The affected parameters represent common booking form fields that are typically user-controllable, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through normal user interaction with the booking interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks within the compromised WordPress environment. Attackers can leverage the XSS vulnerability to steal administrator cookies, inject malicious code that modifies website content, or redirect users to malicious domains for credential harvesting. The persistence of these attacks through multiple user sessions means that the vulnerability can remain active for extended periods without detection. The Roomcloud plugin's functionality as a booking system makes it particularly attractive to attackers who may seek to compromise user data or use the compromised site as a launching point for further attacks against visitors. This vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output encoding in web applications, as the failure to sanitize user-provided parameters creates an avenue for persistent malicious code execution.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-3904 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to version 1.3 or later, which contain the necessary fixes for input sanitization. Administrators should implement comprehensive input validation measures that filter and sanitize all user-provided parameters before processing, particularly those related to booking information. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Regular security auditing of WordPress plugins and themes remains crucial for identifying similar vulnerabilities, as this flaw demonstrates the ongoing need for proper security practices in plugin development. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns, while maintaining detailed monitoring of user activity that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of keeping all WordPress components updated and following secure coding practices that prevent the injection of untrusted data into web applications.