CVE-2016-10763 in Event Ticketing Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The CampTix Event Ticketing plugin before 1.5 for WordPress allows XSS in the admin section via a ticket title or body.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/01/2023
The CampTix Event Ticketing plugin for WordPress represents a critical security vulnerability through its failure to properly sanitize user input within the administrative interface. This vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to 1.5 and creates a cross-site scripting attack vector that can be exploited by malicious actors to inject malicious code into the plugin's admin section. The flaw manifests when administrators process ticket titles or body content, which are not adequately filtered or escaped before being rendered back to the user interface. This represents a classic input validation failure that violates fundamental web security principles and creates persistent XSS opportunities within the WordPress administrative environment.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data in the ticket creation and editing workflows. When administrators view or edit ticket information through the CampTix admin interface, the plugin fails to implement proper output escaping or input validation mechanisms. This allows attackers to embed malicious JavaScript code within ticket titles or body content that executes in the context of other administrators' browsers. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through various attack vectors including email-based social engineering or direct access to ticket creation interfaces. From a CWE perspective, this vulnerability maps to CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications, while from an ATT&CK framework standpoint it aligns with T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, representing a common attack pattern where adversaries target web applications to establish persistent access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or theft. Successful exploitation can lead to complete administrative compromise of WordPress installations, enabling attackers to modify ticket configurations, access sensitive event data, or even install additional malicious plugins. The persistent nature of XSS vulnerabilities means that any administrator who views affected ticket content becomes a potential victim of the attack, creating a wide attack surface within the organization's web infrastructure. This vulnerability particularly affects event management organizations that rely heavily on WordPress for their ticketing systems, as it can be exploited to manipulate event registrations, steal attendee information, or disrupt legitimate business operations. The attack requires minimal privileges and can be executed through simple payload injection techniques, making it a highly attractive target for threat actors seeking to compromise WordPress environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate patching to version 1.5 or later where the sanitization issues have been addressed. Administrators should also implement additional security measures including regular security audits of WordPress plugins, implementing content security policies to limit script execution, and conducting regular monitoring for suspicious activity in administrative interfaces. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output escaping in web applications, particularly within administrative interfaces where privileged access exists. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block common XSS attack patterns, while maintaining comprehensive backup and recovery procedures to ensure rapid restoration in case of successful exploitation. The incident underscores the necessity of keeping all WordPress plugins updated and following security best practices for web application development and maintenance.