CVE-2016-1000134 in hdw-tube Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Reflected XSS in wordpress plugin hdw-tube v1.2
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1000134 represents a reflected cross-site scripting flaw within the hdw-tube wordpress plugin version 1.2. This security weakness resides in the plugin's handling of user input parameters, specifically within the search functionality that processes query strings without adequate sanitization or output encoding. The vulnerability allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary javascript code into web pages viewed by other users, potentially leading to unauthorized actions performed on behalf of victims.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs when the plugin fails to properly validate and sanitize input received through http request parameters. When users navigate to search results pages or perform queries within the plugin's interface, the application directly incorporates user-supplied data into the HTTP response without appropriate encoding or filtering mechanisms. This creates an environment where attacker-controlled input can be executed as client-side script within the context of other users' browsers, making it a classic reflected XSS vulnerability. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as "Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')", which specifically addresses the failure to properly encode or escape user-provided data before rendering it in web contexts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking. An attacker could leverage this weakness to execute malicious scripts that redirect users to phishing sites, steal cookies and authentication tokens, or even perform administrative actions within the compromised wordpress installation if the targeted users possess elevated privileges. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the attack payload must be delivered via a crafted link that the victim clicks, making it particularly dangerous in social engineering campaigns. This type of vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including email phishing, compromised websites, or malicious advertisements, all of which can be categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1566.001 "Phishing for Information" and T1584.002 "Compromise of Web Applications".
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the plugin's codebase. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all user-provided input through whitelisting or proper escaping functions before incorporating any data into web responses. WordPress developers should implement the wp_kses() function or similar sanitization methods to ensure that only safe HTML elements are rendered. Additionally, the plugin should adopt Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the sources from which scripts can be executed, providing defense-in-depth protection. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices within wordpress plugins, as highlighted by the OWASP Top 10 2017 category A03:2017 "Injection" and the broader security principle that all user input must be treated as untrusted. Organizations should ensure that all wordpress plugins are regularly updated to address known vulnerabilities and implement proper security scanning procedures to identify similar issues in custom or third-party code. The vulnerability also underscores the necessity of following the principle of least privilege, where plugin functionality is restricted to only the minimum required permissions to operate effectively, reducing the potential impact of exploitation.