CVE-2016-1000138 in indexisto Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Reflected XSS in wordpress plugin indexisto v1.0.5
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1000138 represents a reflected cross-site scripting flaw within the wordpress plugin indexisto version 1.0.5. This security weakness allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users, potentially leading to unauthorized access to user sessions or data theft. The vulnerability specifically affects the plugin's handling of user input parameters that are reflected back to the browser without proper sanitization or encoding mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this flaw stems from inadequate input validation within the plugin's codebase where user-supplied parameters are directly incorporated into web responses without appropriate security measures. When a malicious user crafts a specially formatted URL containing script payloads and tricks another user into accessing it, the web application reflects this malicious content back to the victim's browser, executing the injected scripts in the context of the victim's session. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, manipulate user interface elements, or redirect users to malicious websites. Given that wordpress plugins are widely used and often have elevated privileges within the application environment, the potential damage from such a vulnerability can be significant. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to user accounts, particularly if the affected plugin has administrative capabilities or handles sensitive user data.
Security practitioners should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability. The primary mitigation involves updating to a patched version of the indexisto plugin where input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms have been properly implemented. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing content security policies to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts, and employ web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious input patterns. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security audits and input validation practices that align with OWASP Top Ten security guidelines. Organizations should also consider implementing proper logging and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. This particular vulnerability demonstrates the critical need for secure coding practices and proper input validation in web applications, especially when dealing with user-supplied data that may be reflected back to browsers. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a web application vulnerability that can be exploited through social engineering techniques to deliver malicious payloads to unsuspecting users, making it a significant concern for organizations maintaining wordpress-based web applications.