CVE-2015-9297 in events-manager Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The events-manager plugin before 5.6 for WordPress has XSS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/08/2024
The CVE-2015-9297 vulnerability affects the events-manager plugin for WordPress, specifically versions prior to 5.6, and represents a cross-site scripting flaw that allows attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a victim's browser. This vulnerability resides within the plugin's handling of user-supplied input in event management functionalities, where inadequate sanitization permits malicious code injection. The flaw manifests when users interact with event listings, forms, or administrative interfaces that process unfiltered input parameters, creating a persistent vector for exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the plugin's core codebase. When event data is submitted through various forms or endpoints, the system fails to properly sanitize or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This weakness creates an environment where attackers can inject malicious payloads that execute in the browsers of other users who view affected content. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the user interface level, where legitimate users interact with event information, making it difficult to distinguish between benign and malicious content.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-9297 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, deface websites, steal sensitive information, or redirect users to malicious domains. An attacker could craft specially formatted event titles, descriptions, or location fields containing malicious javascript code that executes whenever other users view these events. This creates a persistent threat vector that can affect not only individual users but entire website communities, potentially compromising user credentials and website integrity. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill, making it attractive to threat actors seeking automated attacks against WordPress installations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching to version 5.6 or later, which addresses the input sanitization issues through proper escaping and validation of user-supplied data. Administrators should also implement additional security measures such as input filtering at the web application firewall level, regular security audits of plugin installations, and monitoring for suspicious user activity or content modifications. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and represents a common attack pattern that maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious web content. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies to further reduce the impact of potential exploitation attempts.