CVE-2016-10963 in icegram Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The icegram plugin before 1.9.19 for WordPress has XSS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10963 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the icegram plugin for WordPress systems. This security weakness affects versions prior to 1.9.19 and exposes WordPress installations to potential exploitation by malicious actors seeking to inject arbitrary web scripts into vulnerable pages. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the plugin's codebase, creating an avenue for attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of affected users' browsers.
The technical flaw manifests when the icegram plugin fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it within web pages. This inadequate sanitization allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that, when processed by the plugin, get executed in the browsers of unsuspecting users. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting attacks, where the system fails to properly validate or escape user-controllable data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. The attack vector typically involves manipulating form inputs, URL parameters, or other user-controllable data fields within the plugin's interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, defacement of web pages, data theft from authenticated users, and potential redirection to malicious websites. When exploited, the XSS vulnerability allows attackers to steal cookies, which could contain session tokens, thereby enabling unauthorized access to user accounts. The severity of this vulnerability is particularly concerning in WordPress environments where administrators and users may have elevated privileges, potentially allowing attackers to escalate their privileges and gain full control over the affected systems. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which describes the use of malicious content to gain initial access to systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-10963 primarily involve upgrading the icegram plugin to version 1.9.19 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the XSS vulnerability. System administrators should also implement additional security measures including input validation on all user-facing interfaces, output encoding of dynamic content, and regular security audits of installed WordPress plugins. Network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect suspicious patterns in web traffic that may indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts, and maintain comprehensive backup strategies to quickly restore systems in case of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of keeping WordPress plugins updated and following security best practices for web application development and maintenance.