CVE-2016-10736 in Social Pug - Easy Social Share Buttons
Summary
by MITRE
The "Social Pug - Easy Social Share Buttons" plugin before 1.2.6 for WordPress allows XSS via the wp-admin/admin.php?page=dpsp-toolkit dpsp_message_class parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/26/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10736 affects the Social Pug - Easy Social Share Buttons WordPress plugin, specifically versions prior to 1.2.6. This issue represents a cross-site scripting vulnerability that arises from insufficient input validation within the plugin's administrative interface. The flaw manifests when the dpsp_message_class parameter is manipulated through the wp-admin/admin.php?page=dpsp-toolkit endpoint, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into the administrative environment.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through parameter manipulation within the WordPress admin panel where the plugin's toolkit interface is accessible. When an administrator visits the dpsp-toolkit page and the dpsp_message_class parameter is not properly sanitized or validated, malicious input can be executed within the context of the administrator's browser session. This represents a classic reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into the web page response without adequate sanitization or encoding.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to escalate privileges within the WordPress administrative environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially perform actions such as modifying plugin settings, creating or modifying user accounts, accessing sensitive data, or even installing malicious code within the WordPress installation. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it targets the administrative interface where privileged users perform critical system management tasks, making it a prime target for privilege escalation attacks.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which describes Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications, specifically reflecting the improper neutralization of input during web page generation. From an adversary perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1213.002 which involves accessing data through web applications, and potentially T1078.004 related to valid accounts for maintaining access. The attack vector requires minimal sophistication as it leverages a standard web application vulnerability pattern that has been well-documented in security literature. Organizations using vulnerable versions of this plugin face significant risk of unauthorized access and potential complete system compromise through this single vulnerable parameter.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching to version 1.2.6 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization for the affected parameter. Additionally, administrators should implement proper input validation at multiple layers, including server-side validation for all parameters passed to administrative interfaces. Network-based mitigations such as web application firewalls can provide additional protection, though they should not replace proper code-level fixes. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious parameter values in administrative endpoints, and regular security audits of WordPress plugins should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other third-party components.