CVE-2016-1000140 in new-year-firework Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Reflected XSS in wordpress plugin new-year-firework v1.1.9
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1000140 represents a reflected cross-site scripting flaw within the new-year-firework wordpress plugin version 1.1.9. This issue arises from inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the plugin's codebase, specifically affecting how user-supplied parameters are processed and rendered in web responses. The vulnerability manifests when malicious actors craft specially crafted URLs containing malicious script payloads that are then reflected back to users who click on these links, potentially executing unauthorized code within the victim's browser context.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of HTTP request parameters that are directly incorporated into the plugin's response without proper sanitization. When a user visits a maliciously crafted URL containing script code within the plugin's parameter handling logic, the malicious payload gets executed in the victim's browser session, leveraging the trust relationship between the user and the vulnerable wordpress installation. This reflected XSS vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be classified under CWE-79 as improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically in the context of web applications that handle user input through HTTP parameters.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, or even modify the content displayed to authenticated users. In a wordpress environment, this vulnerability could be exploited to gain unauthorized access to administrator accounts, especially if the plugin's functionality allows for privileged operations to be performed through the vulnerable parameter handling. The attack vector requires user interaction, making it a client-side exploit that relies on social engineering techniques to deliver the malicious payload effectively.
Security practitioners should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, including immediate patching of the affected plugin to version 1.1.10 or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes. Additionally, implementing proper output encoding and content security policies can provide additional protection against reflected XSS attacks. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which covers social engineering through spearphishing, as attackers often use crafted URLs to deliver malicious payloads. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious parameter patterns commonly associated with XSS exploitation attempts, while maintaining regular security audits to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins or themes that may present similar input handling flaws.