CVE-2016-10993 in ScoreMe Theme
Summary
by MITRE
The ScoreMe theme through 2016-04-01 for WordPress has XSS via the s parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/26/2023
The ScoreMe WordPress theme, specifically versions released through April 1, 2016, contained a critical cross-site scripting vulnerability that exposed users to potential security risks. This vulnerability originated from improper input validation within the theme's handling of user-supplied data, specifically in the s parameter used for search functionality. The flaw allowed malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into web pages viewed by other users, creating a persistent threat vector that could be exploited across multiple sessions and user interactions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the theme's failure to properly sanitize or escape user input before incorporating it into dynamic web content. When the s parameter was processed, the theme did not adequately filter or encode special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript markup. This lack of input sanitization directly violates the fundamental security principle of treating all user input as potentially malicious and requires proper validation and encoding before any processing occurs. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and represents a classic example of how insufficient input validation can lead to widespread security compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it could enable attackers to perform a variety of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of affected websites, and redirection to malicious domains. Users accessing sites running the vulnerable ScoreMe theme could unknowingly execute malicious code in their browsers, potentially leading to complete compromise of their browsing sessions. The vulnerability's persistence meant that once exploited, the malicious payloads would continue to affect users until the theme was updated or removed, creating a sustained threat that could be leveraged for extended periods without detection.
Organizations and website administrators using the ScoreMe theme were strongly advised to implement immediate remediation measures including updating to the latest theme version that addressed the XSS vulnerability, implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, and conducting comprehensive security audits of their WordPress installations. The vulnerability also highlighted the importance of regular security assessments and prompt patch management for third-party WordPress themes and plugins. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could be categorized under T1059.007 for scripting languages and T1566 for social engineering techniques that leverage web-based attacks, emphasizing the need for layered security approaches that address both application-level flaws and user awareness training.