CVE-2016-1000128 in anti-plagiarism Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Reflected XSS in wordpress plugin anti-plagiarism v3.60
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1000128 represents a reflected cross-site scripting flaw within the anti-plagiarism plugin version 3.60 for WordPress platforms. This security weakness arises from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the plugin's codebase, specifically affecting how user-supplied data is processed and rendered back to web browsers. The vulnerability exists in the plugin's handling of HTTP request parameters that are directly incorporated into HTML responses without proper encoding or filtering. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting malicious URLs containing scripted content that gets executed in the context of a victim's browser when they visit the compromised page. The reflected nature of this XSS vulnerability means that the malicious script is reflected off the web server rather than being stored on the server, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that process user input through URL parameters.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly sanitize user inputs before incorporating them into dynamic HTML content generation. When legitimate users interact with the anti-plagiarism plugin, particularly during search operations or result display functions, the plugin processes parameters from the HTTP request without adequate validation or encoding. This allows an attacker to inject malicious JavaScript code through URL parameters that are then reflected back to the user's browser in the page response. The vulnerability specifically affects how the plugin handles user input in its search and display functionalities, where query parameters are directly echoed back to the client without proper HTML entity encoding. According to CWE classification, this corresponds to CWE-79 which describes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a classic reflected XSS vulnerability that can be leveraged for session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable sophisticated attack vectors targeting WordPress administrators and regular users. An attacker could craft malicious URLs that, when clicked by an administrator, would execute scripts that steal session cookies, modify plugin settings, or redirect users to phishing sites designed to capture login credentials. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where administrators frequently use the anti-plagiarism plugin, as successful exploitation could provide attackers with elevated privileges within the WordPress environment. Additionally, the reflected nature of the vulnerability means that attackers can use various delivery methods such as social engineering campaigns, compromised websites, or malicious email attachments to propagate the attack. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers spearphishing with a link, where the malicious link exploits the reflected XSS to execute malicious code in the victim's browser context. The impact is further amplified when considering that WordPress plugins often have access to sensitive data and administrative functions, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges or compromise entire websites.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The most effective immediate solution involves updating the anti-plagiarism plugin to a patched version that properly sanitizes all user inputs and implements proper HTML encoding for reflected data. Administrators should also implement Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts and reduce the impact of successful XSS exploitation attempts. Input validation and output encoding should be enforced at multiple layers including server-side validation, parameter sanitization, and proper HTML escaping before any dynamic content is rendered. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures by detecting and blocking malicious payloads attempting to exploit this vulnerability. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other plugins and core WordPress components. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and implementing proper security controls during application development, as reflected in industry best practices and security frameworks such as OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines. Organizations should establish robust patch management processes to ensure timely deployment of security updates for all WordPress plugins and themes to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities like CVE-2016-1000128.