CVE-2016-1000126 in admin-font-editor Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Reflected XSS in wordpress plugin admin-font-editor v1.8
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1000126 represents a reflected cross-site scripting flaw within the admin-font-editor wordpress plugin version 1.8. This issue resides in the plugin's administrative interface where user input is not properly sanitized before being reflected back to the browser. The vulnerability specifically affects the plugin's handling of parameters passed through the web interface, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to inject arbitrary javascript code that executes in the context of other users' browsers. The reflected nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious payload must be crafted to be included in a URL or form submission that is then processed by the vulnerable plugin.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and output encoding within the plugin's administrative components. When administrators or users with appropriate privileges access certain pages within the plugin's interface, the application fails to adequately sanitize parameters received from HTTP requests before incorporating them into HTML responses. This failure directly violates fundamental web security principles and creates a pathway for attackers to execute malicious scripts in the browsers of unsuspecting users who visit the crafted malicious URLs. The vulnerability can be classified under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 which covers exploitation of web application vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it provides attackers with the capability to perform various malicious activities including but not limited to session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the compromised wordpress environment. An attacker could craft malicious URLs that, when clicked by an administrator, would execute scripts to steal admin session cookies or modify plugin settings. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where administrators have elevated privileges, as successful exploitation could lead to complete compromise of the wordpress installation and potentially the entire underlying server infrastructure. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that attackers do not need to store malicious code on the server itself, making detection and remediation more challenging.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should begin with immediate patching of the affected plugin to version 1.8.1 or later where the sanitization issues have been addressed. System administrators should also implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the wordpress installation, particularly in areas where user-supplied data is processed. Network-based protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional layers of defense by detecting and blocking malicious requests containing common XSS payload patterns. Security monitoring should include regular scanning for vulnerable plugins and maintaining up-to-date vulnerability assessments of the entire wordpress ecosystem. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts and establish proper access controls to minimize the impact of potential exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining current plugin versions and implementing comprehensive security practices that include regular vulnerability assessments and proper input sanitization procedures.