CVE-2015-9299 in events-manager Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The events-manager plugin before 5.5.7.1 for WordPress has DOM XSS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/08/2024
The events-manager plugin for WordPress contains a cross-site scripting vulnerability that affects versions prior to 5.5.7.1, creating a persistent security risk for WordPress installations. This vulnerability specifically manifests as a DOM-based cross-site scripting flaw that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into the web application's document object model. The issue occurs when the plugin processes user-supplied input without proper sanitization or encoding, enabling attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of a victim's browser session. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the DOM level rather than traditional input/output XSS, making it more difficult to detect and mitigate through standard security measures.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves manipulating the plugin's event handling mechanisms to inject malicious JavaScript payloads through parameters or data fields that are not properly validated. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting specially formatted event data or submission parameters that get processed and rendered without adequate security controls. When a victim views an affected page or interacts with the compromised event data, the malicious script executes in their browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The DOM XSS nature means that the attack vector operates within the browser's document object model rather than server-side processing, allowing the malicious code to persist in the DOM structure itself.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform sophisticated attacks such as stealing user cookies, modifying page content, or conducting phishing operations against authenticated users. WordPress administrators and site owners who have not updated to version 5.5.7.1 remain at risk, particularly in environments where multiple users interact with event management features. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including event submission forms, calendar views, or administrative interfaces where user input is processed. Organizations using this plugin may experience unauthorized access to sensitive event data, potential data exfiltration, and compromised user sessions, especially in high-traffic environments where event management is frequently used.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching to version 5.5.7.1 or later, as this represents the primary and most effective remediation approach. Security administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the affected plugin across their WordPress installations and ensure all users are updated promptly. Additional defensive measures include implementing proper input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied data, configuring content security policies to restrict script execution, and monitoring for suspicious activity in event management modules. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block potential exploitation attempts, while maintaining regular security audits to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins or themes. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a variant that falls under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script-based attacks, emphasizing the need for robust input sanitization and proper security controls in web applications.