CVE-2015-9350 in feed-them-social Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The feed-them-social plugin before 1.7.0 for WordPress has reflected XSS in the Facebook Feeds load more button.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2023
The CVE-2015-9350 vulnerability affects the feed-them-social plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting versions prior to 1.7.0. This issue represents a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability that occurs within the Facebook Feeds load more button functionality of the plugin. The vulnerability arises when user-supplied input is not properly sanitized or escaped before being rendered back to the browser, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code. The reflected nature of this XSS means that the malicious payload is included in a request and then reflected back to the user's browser, making it particularly dangerous as it can be delivered through various attack vectors including phishing emails or compromised websites.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's Facebook feed implementation. When users interact with the load more button functionality, the plugin fails to properly sanitize the parameters passed through the HTTP request before incorporating them into the HTML response. This creates a pathway for attackers to craft malicious URLs containing XSS payloads that, when clicked by unsuspecting users, execute in the context of the victim's browser session. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it leverages legitimate plugin functionality, making it harder for users to distinguish between benign and malicious interactions. According to CWE-79, this vulnerability maps directly to improper neutralization of input during web output, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-9350 extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal user credentials, or redirect victims to malicious websites. An attacker could craft a malicious Facebook feed URL that, when loaded by a victim, would execute JavaScript code to steal cookies or session tokens. The vulnerability affects all WordPress users who have installed the feed-them-social plugin version 1.6.9 or earlier, potentially compromising thousands of websites. This issue particularly impacts social media integration plugins that handle external data feeds, as these components often require dynamic content rendering that increases the attack surface. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which involves the exploitation of web applications through reflected cross-site scripting, allowing adversaries to establish persistent access to compromised systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-9350 include immediate upgrading to feed-them-social plugin version 1.7.0 or later, which contains the necessary security patches to address the reflected XSS vulnerability. Administrators should also implement proper input validation and output escaping mechanisms throughout their WordPress installations, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being rendered in web pages. Additional protective measures include implementing content security policies that restrict script execution and monitoring for suspicious user interactions with the affected plugin. Security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments of WordPress plugins and maintain updated security configurations to prevent similar issues from occurring in other components of their web applications. The fix implemented in version 1.7.0 demonstrates the importance of proper parameter handling and input sanitization in preventing reflected XSS attacks, aligning with industry best practices for secure web development and the principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten Project.