CVE-2016-1000142 in parsi-font Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Reflected XSS in wordpress plugin parsi-font v4.2.5
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/24/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1000142 represents a reflected cross-site scripting flaw within the parsi-font WordPress plugin version 4.2.5. This issue arises from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the plugin's codebase, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into web pages viewed by unsuspecting users. The vulnerability specifically affects the plugin's handling of user-supplied parameters that are reflected back to the browser without proper encoding or validation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing crafted script payloads that are then reflected back to the victim's browser through the vulnerable plugin's interface. The parsi-font plugin fails to properly sanitize user input parameters before incorporating them into dynamic web page content, allowing attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of the victim's browser session. This flaw typically manifests when the plugin processes query string parameters or form data without implementing adequate sanitization measures, directly violating secure coding principles and industry standards.
From an operational perspective, this reflected XSS vulnerability poses significant risks to WordPress installations using the affected parsi-font plugin. Attackers can leverage this weakness to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, or inject additional malicious content into the compromised sites. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond individual user sessions as it can be used to spread malware across multiple users within the same WordPress environment. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that exploitation requires user interaction with a specially crafted link, but once clicked, the malicious payload executes automatically in the victim's browser context, making it particularly dangerous for widespread deployment.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in software applications. It also maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1566.001 for spearphishing with attachments and T1566.002 for spearphishing with links, as attackers can craft malicious URLs to deliver XSS payloads. Additionally, the weakness demonstrates characteristics consistent with T1213.002 for data from information repositories, where attackers can exploit the vulnerability to access and manipulate data within the compromised WordPress environment. Organizations should consider implementing comprehensive input validation mechanisms, output encoding, and regular security assessments to prevent such vulnerabilities from being exploited.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate upgrading of the parsi-font plugin to a patched version that properly sanitizes user input and implements adequate output encoding. System administrators should also implement Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts, deploy web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests, and conduct regular security audits of installed plugins. The WordPress core team and plugin developers should maintain strict security standards and implement automated security testing processes to identify and remediate such vulnerabilities before they can be exploited in the wild. Organizations should also establish robust patch management processes to ensure timely deployment of security updates across all WordPress installations.