CVE-2016-10897 in sermon-browser Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The sermon-browser plugin before 0.45.16 for WordPress has multiple XSS issues.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2023
The CVE-2016-10897 vulnerability affects the sermon-browser plugin version 0.45.16 and earlier in the WordPress ecosystem, representing a critical cross-site scripting weakness that exposes websites to potential exploitation. This plugin specifically designed for managing and displaying sermon content on WordPress sites contains multiple input validation flaws that allow attackers to inject malicious scripts into the web application's response. The vulnerability exists within the plugin's handling of user-supplied data, particularly in parameters that control sermon display and management functions, creating an attack surface where malicious actors can manipulate the application's behavior through crafted input.
The technical flaw manifests when the plugin fails to properly sanitize or escape user input before rendering it in web pages. Attackers can exploit this by submitting malicious payloads through various input fields that the plugin uses to process sermon data, including sermon titles, descriptions, speaker names, or other metadata fields. These inputs are then reflected back to users without adequate output encoding, enabling attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of the victim's browser session. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize input, specifically targeting the improper handling of user-supplied data in web applications. This weakness allows attackers to perform session hijacking, defacement, or redirect users to malicious websites, depending on the specific implementation of the attack vector.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to user sessions, steal sensitive information, or manipulate the content displayed on the website. WordPress sites using vulnerable versions of the sermon-browser plugin become susceptible to persistent XSS attacks, where malicious scripts can be stored on the server and executed whenever users view affected pages. This creates a persistent threat that can compromise user accounts, especially if administrators or users have elevated privileges. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where sermon content management involves user contributions or where the plugin is used in religious organizations that may not have robust security practices in place. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for scripting and T1531 for credential access, as attackers can leverage the XSS to harvest session cookies or credentials from authenticated users.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the sermon-browser plugin to version 0.45.16 or later, which contains the necessary input sanitization and output encoding fixes. System administrators should also implement additional security measures including input validation at multiple layers, regular security audits of installed plugins, and monitoring for suspicious activity. The WordPress security team recommends enabling security plugins that provide additional filtering capabilities and maintaining up-to-date WordPress core installations. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts and establish proper access controls for plugin management functions. Regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing of web applications can help identify similar issues in other components of the WordPress ecosystem, ensuring comprehensive protection against similar cross-site scripting vulnerabilities that may exist in other plugins or themes.