CVE-2015-9303 in simple-share-buttons-adder plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The simple-share-buttons-adder plugin before 6.0.0 for WordPress has XSS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/23/2023
The CVE-2015-9303 vulnerability affects the simple-share-buttons-adder plugin for WordPress, specifically versions prior to 6.0.0, and represents a cross-site scripting flaw that poses significant security risks to WordPress installations. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the plugin's handling of user-supplied data, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects a widely used social sharing plugin that many WordPress sites implement to facilitate user engagement and content distribution across social media platforms.
The technical flaw manifests when the plugin processes user input through its sharing button configuration interfaces without proper sanitization or encoding of special characters. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious input in plugin settings or shared content parameters that gets subsequently rendered on web pages without appropriate HTML escaping or context-specific encoding. When legitimate users view pages containing the vulnerable plugin output, their browsers execute the injected malicious scripts, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can be leveraged to establish persistent malicious presence on affected sites, particularly when combined with other attack vectors or when the plugin is used in conjunction with other vulnerable components within the WordPress ecosystem.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-9303 is substantial for WordPress site administrators and users who rely on the simple-share-buttons-adder plugin. Sites running vulnerable versions become susceptible to various attack scenarios including credential theft through session hijacking, defacement of web content, and potential compromise of user data. The vulnerability can be exploited through multiple attack vectors including direct manipulation of plugin configuration settings, injection through shared content parameters, or even through compromised user accounts that can modify plugin settings. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability provides a relatively low-effort method to gain unauthorized access to user sessions or inject malicious payloads that can persist across multiple user interactions. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566 for Phishing, as it enables attackers to establish persistent access and deliver malicious payloads to unsuspecting users. The widespread adoption of the simple-share-buttons-adder plugin means that numerous WordPress sites were potentially exposed to this vulnerability, creating a significant attack surface for threat actors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-9303 primarily focus on immediate remediation through plugin updates to version 6.0.0 or later, which contain the necessary security patches and input validation improvements. Site administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the vulnerable plugin and ensure proper patch management protocols are in place. Additional protective measures include implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, regular monitoring of plugin configurations for unauthorized changes, and maintaining up-to-date security practices for WordPress installations. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of keeping all WordPress plugins updated and performing regular security audits to identify and remediate potential attack vectors. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts and provide additional layers of defense against similar vulnerabilities. Proper input validation and output encoding practices, as recommended by OWASP and other security standards, should be enforced throughout WordPress plugin development to prevent similar issues from arising in the future.