CVE-2015-5484 in Plotly Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Plotly plugin before 1.0.3 for WordPress allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a post.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/25/2025
The CVE-2015-5484 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the Plotly plugin for WordPress systems prior to version 1.0.3. This vulnerability specifically affects the plugin's handling of user input within post creation and editing interfaces, creating a significant security risk for WordPress sites that utilize this visualization tool. The flaw enables authenticated users to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content into posts, which can then be executed by other users who view these posts. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a common weakness in web application security. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can potentially enable more sophisticated attacks including session hijacking, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the affected WordPress environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the Plotly plugin's post handling mechanisms. When authenticated users create or modify posts containing Plotly visualizations, the plugin fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it within the web page context. This lack of proper sanitization allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that gets executed in the browsers of other users who access the affected posts. The vulnerability specifically leverages the plugin's processing of user-generated content in post creation forms, where the system does not adequately escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as executable code. This flaw represents a classic case of improper input validation where the system assumes that all user input is safe and does not properly encode or escape potentially dangerous characters before rendering them in HTML contexts.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-5484 is substantial for WordPress administrators and end-users who rely on the Plotly plugin for data visualization. Attackers who can authenticate to the WordPress system can exploit this vulnerability to inject malicious scripts that could steal user sessions, redirect visitors to phishing sites, or even execute commands on behalf of the compromised user. The authenticated nature of this vulnerability means that it can be exploited by users with relatively low privileges, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by insiders or compromised accounts. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability aligns with the ATT&CK technique of Web Shell deployment and can be used to establish persistent access to WordPress installations. The threat landscape for this vulnerability is further complicated by the fact that many WordPress sites may not have robust monitoring in place to detect such script injection attempts, making the exploitation difficult to detect and respond to effectively.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-5484 primarily focus on immediate remediation through plugin updates and implementing proper input validation measures. The most effective immediate solution is to upgrade the Plotly plugin to version 1.0.3 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the XSS vulnerability. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent similar issues in other custom or third-party plugins. Security measures should include regular security audits of installed plugins, implementation of web application firewalls, and monitoring for suspicious script injection attempts. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of inline scripts and reduce the impact of potential XSS attacks. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding practices, which are fundamental requirements for secure web application development and align with security standards such as OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks.