CVE-2015-9311 in NewStatPress Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The newstatpress plugin before 1.0.6 for WordPress has reflected XSS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/25/2023
The CVE-2015-9311 vulnerability affects the newstatpress plugin for WordPress versions prior to 1.0.6, representing a reflected cross-site scripting flaw that poses significant security risks to WordPress installations. This vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's handling of user input within HTTP request parameters, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of a victim's browser session.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the newstatpress plugin's codebase. When users navigate to specific plugin endpoints or interact with certain features, the plugin fails to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into HTML responses. This reflected nature means that malicious input is immediately reflected back to the user without any server-side processing or sanitization, making it particularly dangerous for exploitation through social engineering techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as reflected XSS attacks can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal administrative credentials, inject malicious content into web pages, redirect users to phishing sites, or execute arbitrary commands within the victim's browser context. The vulnerability affects all WordPress installations using the affected plugin version, creating a widespread attack surface that could compromise numerous websites simultaneously.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious web content. The reflected nature of the vulnerability makes it particularly suitable for phishing campaigns where attackers craft malicious URLs designed to exploit the vulnerability when clicked by unsuspecting users. The attack typically involves sending crafted links to victims through email or other communication channels, where the malicious JavaScript executes in the context of the victim's authenticated session.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-9311 primarily involve immediate patching of the affected plugin to version 1.0.6 or later, which includes proper input validation and output sanitization measures. System administrators should also implement additional security measures such as web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious input patterns, regular security audits of installed plugins, and monitoring for unauthorized modifications to WordPress core files or plugin directories. Organizations should consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts, and maintain up-to-date security monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of keeping WordPress plugins updated and following security best practices for plugin management.