CVE-2016-10994 in Truemag Theme
Summary
by MITRE
The Truemag theme 2016 Q2 for WordPress has XSS via the s parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/26/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10994 affects the Truemag theme version 2016 Q2 for WordPress platforms, representing a cross-site scripting flaw that allows attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of a victim's browser. This particular vulnerability manifests through the s parameter, which is commonly used for search functionality within WordPress themes and plugins. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the theme's search handling code, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors to inject harmful JavaScript code.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a user navigates to a specially crafted URL containing malicious script within the s parameter. When the WordPress theme processes this parameter without proper sanitization, the injected code becomes part of the page's HTML output and executes in the browser of any user who views the affected page. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it leverages legitimate search functionality that users frequently interact with, making it difficult to distinguish between normal and malicious traffic.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of the website, and redirection to malicious sites. An attacker could craft payloads that steal cookies, modify content, or even escalate privileges if the victim has administrative access. The vulnerability affects any WordPress installation using the Truemag theme version 2016 Q2, potentially compromising thousands of websites that have not updated their themes. This type of attack aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering methods including the use of malicious links to execute code on target systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate theme updates from the vendor to address the sanitization flaw in the search parameter handling. System administrators should implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious code from being executed. Additionally, implementing content security policies can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other themes and plugins. The WordPress community should also consider implementing automated monitoring for known vulnerable themes and maintaining updated security baselines that include proper sanitization of all user inputs to prevent similar cross-site scripting vulnerabilities from occurring in the future.