CVE-2015-9500 in Exquisite Ultimate Newspaper Theme
Summary
by MITRE
The Exquisite Ultimate Newspaper theme 1.3.3 for WordPress has XSS via the anchor identifier to assets/js/jquery.foundation.plugins.js.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/17/2024
The CVE-2015-9500 vulnerability represents a cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the Exquisite Ultimate Newspaper WordPress theme version 1.3.3, specifically within the assets/js/jquery.foundation.plugins.js file. This vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices in the theme's javascript implementation, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject arbitrary script code into web pages viewed by unsuspecting users. The issue manifests through the anchor identifier parameter that is processed without proper sanitization, allowing attackers to manipulate the theme's javascript functionality and potentially execute malicious code in the context of a victim's browser session.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a malicious actor crafts a specially crafted URL containing malicious script code within the anchor identifier parameter. When a victim visits a page that includes this malformed parameter, the vulnerable javascript code fails to properly escape or validate the input before rendering it in the browser. This allows the attacker to inject javascript payloads that can execute within the victim's browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further exploitation of the compromised user's privileges. The vulnerability specifically targets the jquery.foundation.plugins.js file, which suggests the issue stems from improper handling of user-supplied anchor identifiers passed to foundation javascript components.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability poses significant risks to WordPress site administrators and their visitors, particularly in environments where the Exquisite Ultimate Newspaper theme is actively used. The impact extends beyond simple script injection as it can enable more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft, redirection to malicious sites, or even the installation of malware through browser-based exploitation techniques. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to compromise user sessions, especially if the affected site has users with elevated privileges such as administrators or editors who might be tricked into clicking malicious links. The vulnerability's persistence in the theme's javascript implementation means that all users of version 1.3.3 are potentially at risk regardless of their individual security practices.
The security implications of CVE-2015-9500 align with common CWE categories including CWE-79 for cross-site scripting and CWE-20 for improper input validation, demonstrating fundamental flaws in the theme's development practices. This vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1566 for spearphishing with attachments, as attackers can craft malicious links that appear legitimate to victims while exploiting this javascript-based vulnerability. Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to a patched version of the Exquisite Ultimate Newspaper theme, implementing proper input validation measures, and conducting thorough security assessments of all installed WordPress themes and plugins. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual traffic patterns or attempts to exploit similar javascript vulnerabilities within the web application infrastructure.