CVE-2016-1000145 in pondol-carousel Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Reflected XSS in wordpress plugin pondol-carousel v1.0
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/24/2019
The vulnerability CVE-2016-1000145 represents a reflected cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the pondol-carousel wordpress plugin version 1.0. This issue arises from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the plugin's codebase, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary javascript code into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability specifically affects the plugin's handling of user-supplied parameters in HTTP requests, which are subsequently reflected back to users without proper encoding or sanitization measures.
The technical implementation of this reflected XSS vulnerability occurs when the plugin processes query string parameters or form data without adequate sanitization before rendering them in web responses. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing javascript payloads that, when executed by vulnerable web browsers, can steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The flaw typically manifests when the plugin's code directly incorporates user input into HTML output without proper HTML entity encoding or javascript context escaping, making it susceptible to exploitation through carefully crafted malicious requests.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, deface websites, or establish persistent access through cookie theft. Given that wordpress plugins often have elevated privileges and access to user data, an attacker could potentially leverage this vulnerability to compromise entire wordpress installations. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that exploitation requires user interaction with a malicious link, typically through social engineering campaigns or phishing attacks. This makes the attack vector particularly dangerous as it can be delivered through email campaigns, forums, or compromised websites that direct users to malicious URLs containing the XSS payload.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-1000145 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the reflected XSS vulnerability, following the principle of least privilege and input validation. Security measures should include implementing proper output encoding mechanisms, utilizing Content Security Policy headers to restrict script execution, and conducting regular security audits of all installed wordpress plugins. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566 for social engineering attacks that leverage reflected XSS vulnerabilities. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, conduct regular penetration testing, and maintain updated security monitoring systems to identify potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, user education regarding suspicious links and website behavior should form part of the overall security posture to prevent successful exploitation through social engineering vectors.