CVE-2017-17059 in amty-thumb-recent-post
Summary
by MITRE
XSS exists in the amtyThumb amty-thumb-recent-post (aka amtyThumb posts or wp-thumb-post) plugin 8.1.3 for WordPress via the query string to amtyThumbPostsAdminPg.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2017-17059 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the amtyThumb WordPress plugin version 8.1.3, specifically affecting the amty-thumb-recent-post functionality. This issue resides in the administrative interface component named amtyThumbPostsAdminPg.php which processes query string parameters without adequate input validation or output sanitization. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code through crafted URL parameters, potentially compromising the WordPress administration environment. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it targets the plugin's admin page rather than the frontend, making it accessible to users with administrative privileges or those who can manipulate the plugin's settings through manipulated requests.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through improper handling of user-supplied input within the query string parameters passed to the amtyThumbPostsAdminPg.php script. When the plugin processes these parameters without sufficient sanitization, it creates an opportunity for attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of the victim's browser. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79, which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is incorporated into web page content without proper validation or encoding. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it targets the WordPress admin interface, which typically has elevated privileges and access to sensitive system functions. The vulnerability can be classified under the ATT&CK framework as part of the T1213 technique for Data from Information Repositories, potentially enabling further compromise of the WordPress installation through administrative access.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-17059 extends beyond simple script injection, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to perform various malicious activities within the compromised WordPress environment. An attacker with access to the admin page could potentially modify plugin settings, create or modify posts, access sensitive user data, or even escalate privileges within the WordPress installation. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the WordPress administration interface, potentially leading to complete system compromise. Organizations using this specific plugin version face significant risk as the flaw exists in the core administrative functionality, making it a prime target for attackers seeking persistent access to WordPress environments. The vulnerability also impacts the availability of the system as malicious scripts could potentially disrupt normal administrative operations or cause browser-based denial of service conditions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-17059 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the XSS vulnerability, as the original plugin version 8.1.3 contains the exploitable flaw. System administrators should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other custom or third-party WordPress plugins. The WordPress core team and plugin developers should enforce strict security practices including parameter validation, context-specific output encoding, and regular security audits of administrative interfaces. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious query string parameters, as well as conducting regular security assessments of WordPress installations to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. Additionally, privileged access controls should be enforced through multi-factor authentication and regular privilege reviews to limit the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining updated WordPress plugins and following security best practices for web application development, particularly when handling user input in administrative contexts.