CVE-2017-17719 in wp-concours Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
A cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the wp-concours plugin through 1.1 for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the result_message parameter to includes/concours_page.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2019
The CVE-2017-17719 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the wp-concours WordPress plugin version 1.1 and earlier. This vulnerability exists in the plugin's handling of user input within the result_message parameter, which is processed through the includes/concours_page.php file. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a victim's browser, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms within the plugin's codebase, creating an attack vector that can be exploited without requiring authentication or privileged access.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability occurs when the plugin fails to properly validate and escape user-supplied input before rendering it in the web page context. Specifically, when the result_message parameter is passed to the concours_page.php script, the input undergoes insufficient sanitization processes that would normally prevent malicious code from being executed. This flaw falls under 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 vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that WordPress plugins often operate with elevated privileges and can access sensitive user information, making this XSS attack potentially dangerous for end users.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for WordPress site administrators and their users. Attackers can leverage this flaw to inject malicious scripts that can steal cookies, session tokens, or other sensitive information from authenticated users. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the wp-concours plugin is designed for competitive events and likely handles user submissions, making it a prime target for exploitation. The vulnerability can be exploited through various methods including social engineering, where attackers might trick users into clicking malicious links, or by directly injecting payloads into the plugin's functionality. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.008 which covers scripting languages and T1566 which covers spearphishing with a link, demonstrating the multi-faceted attack vectors possible through this flaw.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-17719 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the XSS vulnerability, as the original plugin developers likely released patches to resolve the input sanitization issues. System administrators should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly escaped before being rendered in web contexts. Additional protective measures include implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit script execution, deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, and conducting regular security audits of installed plugins. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of keeping all WordPress components updated, as outdated plugins represent common attack vectors. Organizations should consider implementing automated monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain detailed logs of plugin usage to identify anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate successful attacks.