CVE-2016-11012 in sola-support-tickets Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The sola-support-tickets plugin before 3.13 for WordPress has incorrect access control for /wp-admin with resultant XSS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/26/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-11012 affects the sola-support-tickets plugin for WordPress, specifically versions prior to 3.13. This issue represents a critical access control flaw that undermines the security model of the WordPress administration interface. The vulnerability stems from insufficient authorization checks within the plugin's handling of administrative requests, creating a pathway for unauthorized users to execute malicious scripts within the context of the admin panel. The flaw is particularly concerning because it targets the wp-admin directory, which serves as the primary administrative interface for WordPress sites and contains sensitive functionality that should be restricted to authorized administrators only.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper validation of user permissions when processing requests to the plugin's support ticket management system. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious requests that bypass the normal authentication and authorization mechanisms, allowing them to inject and execute arbitrary javascript code in the browser of any user who accesses the affected administrative pages. This cross-site scripting vulnerability occurs because the plugin fails to properly verify whether the requesting user possesses sufficient privileges to perform the requested operations. The flaw typically manifests when unauthenticated or low-privileged users can manipulate parameters that control access to administrative features, effectively granting them elevated privileges through the compromised access control checks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to perform a range of malicious activities within the compromised WordPress environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could modify support ticket data, inject malicious content into administrative interfaces, steal session cookies, or even escalate privileges to full administrator access. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that can remain active for extended periods, as it does not require special conditions or user interaction beyond accessing the compromised administrative pages. This makes it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users have access to the administrative interface, as the attack could be executed by any user with sufficient access to the plugin's functionality.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems, and represents a classic example of how insufficient access control can lead to severe security implications. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and control through scripting, and T1547.001 for privilege escalation through manipulation of administrative interfaces. Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement the recommended patch updates to version 3.13 or later, which address the access control checks by properly validating user permissions before allowing administrative operations. Additional mitigations include implementing proper network segmentation, monitoring for unusual administrative activity, and conducting regular security audits of installed plugins to ensure all third-party components maintain current security standards. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date plugins and implementing robust access control measures to prevent unauthorized modifications to administrative interfaces.