CVE-2016-1000127 in ajax-random-post Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Reflected XSS in wordpress plugin ajax-random-post v2.00
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1000127 represents a reflected cross-site scripting flaw within the ajax-random-post wordpress plugin version 2.00. This security weakness occurs when the plugin fails to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web page content. The vulnerability specifically affects the plugin's handling of parameters passed through http requests, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to inject arbitrary javascript code that executes in the context of other users' browsers. The flaw exists in the plugin's processing of user-supplied data without adequate validation or output encoding mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this reflected xss vulnerability stems from improper input sanitization practices within the plugin's codebase. When users interact with the plugin's functionality, parameters are passed through url query strings or form data and directly embedded into html responses without appropriate escaping or encoding. This creates a scenario where an attacker can craft malicious payloads that appear legitimate to the victim's browser, causing the javascript code to execute in the victim's browsing context. The vulnerability is classified as reflected because the malicious script is reflected off the web server in response to a user's request rather than being stored on the server.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious websites. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by crafting a malicious url containing javascript payload that, when visited by an authenticated administrator or other privileged user, would execute the attacker's code within the user's browser session. This could lead to complete compromise of the wordpress installation, allowing attackers to modify content, create new administrator accounts, or extract sensitive data from the system. The vulnerability affects any user who visits the malicious link, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrators frequently click on links from untrusted sources.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the affected plugin to version 2.01 or later, which contains the necessary input sanitization fixes. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls with xss detection capabilities and establish proper input validation procedures for all user-supplied data. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for social engineering through malicious links. Additionally, implementing content security policies and regular security audits of installed wordpress plugins can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future, while also ensuring compliance with security standards such as those outlined in the OWASP top ten project and NIST cybersecurity frameworks.