CVE-2016-0765 in eShop Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in eshop-orders.php in the eShop plugin 6.3.14 for WordPress allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) page or (2) action parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/14/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0765 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the eShop plugin version 6.3.14 for WordPress systems. This vulnerability manifests in the eshop-orders.php script where improper input validation allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content through specifically targeted parameters. The flaw affects two distinct input vectors: the page parameter and the action parameter, creating multiple attack surfaces for potential exploitation. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous in content management systems like WordPress where plugins often handle sensitive user data and administrative functions, making them prime targets for attackers seeking to compromise entire web applications.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization and validation of user-supplied input parameters within the eShop plugin's order management interface. When the plugin processes requests containing malicious payloads in either the page or action parameters, it fails to properly escape or filter the input before rendering it in the web response. This allows attackers to inject HTML tags, JavaScript code, or other malicious content that executes in the context of other users' browsers who view the affected pages. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through various attack vectors including crafted URLs, malicious forms, or even social engineering techniques that trick users into clicking infected links. This type of flaw falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically representing a reflected XSS attack pattern where the malicious payload is reflected back to the user through the web application's response.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, steal user credentials, redirect victims to malicious websites, or even execute administrative actions within the compromised WordPress environment. When exploited successfully, these XSS vulnerabilities can lead to complete compromise of user accounts, unauthorized access to sensitive order data, and potential lateral movement within the web application infrastructure. The eShop plugin's role in handling e-commerce transactions makes this vulnerability particularly attractive to attackers targeting online stores, as successful exploitation could result in financial fraud, data theft, and reputational damage. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple parameters increases the attack surface and reduces the effectiveness of simple input filtering approaches that might only address one parameter at a time.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-0765 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the identified XSS flaws, as the original vulnerable version 6.3.14 represents an outdated and insecure implementation. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious payloads from being processed or rendered in web responses. Security measures including Content Security Policy headers, proper sanitization of all user inputs, and regular security audits of installed plugins can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious parameter patterns can provide additional layers of defense. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and the critical need for regular security assessments of WordPress plugins, as outdated components represent one of the most common attack vectors in web application security breaches. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for Scripting and T1566 for Phishing, highlighting both the execution and initial access components of the attack lifecycle that this flaw enables.