CVE-2015-7989 in WordPress
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the user list table in WordPress before 4.3.1 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted e-mail address, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-5714.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/21/2022
The cross-site scripting vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-7989 represents a significant security flaw in WordPress versions prior to 4.3.1 that specifically targets the user list table functionality. This vulnerability operates through a sophisticated attack vector that leverages the trust relationship between authenticated users and the WordPress administration interface. The flaw allows remote attackers who have gained authentication credentials to manipulate the system by injecting malicious scripts through carefully crafted email addresses within the user management interface. This particular vulnerability demonstrates the dangerous intersection of user input handling and web application security, where legitimate administrative functions become attack surfaces for malicious code execution.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization within WordPress's user management components. When administrators view the user list table, the system fails to properly escape or validate email addresses that contain malicious script tags or other harmful HTML content. This oversight creates a persistent cross-site scripting condition where any user with administrative privileges can be exploited through a simple email address field modification. The vulnerability specifically affects the rendering of user data in table format, where email addresses are displayed without proper HTML escaping mechanisms. This flaw falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-site Scripting, specifically representing a stored XSS attack where malicious payloads are permanently stored and executed when other users view the affected page.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-7989 extends beyond simple script injection, creating potential pathways for more sophisticated attacks within compromised WordPress environments. An attacker with authenticated access can craft email addresses containing malicious JavaScript payloads that execute in the context of other administrators' browsers. This creates opportunities for session hijacking, privilege escalation, and data exfiltration through the execution of malicious code that can access the victim administrator's browser session cookies. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe in multi-user environments where administrators frequently interact with user lists, as it transforms routine administrative tasks into potential attack vectors. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, where attackers leverage web-based scripting to execute malicious code within targeted environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-7989 require immediate implementation of WordPress core updates to version 4.3.1 or later, which includes proper input validation and output escaping mechanisms for user email addresses. Organizations should also implement additional security controls including web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious script patterns in user input fields, regular security audits of user management interfaces, and comprehensive user access controls to limit who can modify user information. Network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect unusual patterns of email address modifications that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of proper input validation and output encoding in web applications, particularly in administrative interfaces where users have elevated privileges. Security teams should also consider implementing additional layers of protection including content security policies that prevent script execution in administrative contexts and regular security training for administrators to recognize potential exploitation attempts through user management interfaces.