CVE-2017-18011 in MyCBGenie Affiliate Ads for Clickbank Products Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The MyCBGenie Affiliate Ads for Clickbank Products plugin through 1.6 for WordPress has XSS via the text_ads_ajax.php border_color parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/19/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-18011 affects the MyCBGenie Affiliate Ads for Clickbank Products WordPress plugin version 1.6 and earlier. This issue represents a cross-site scripting vulnerability that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by users. The vulnerability specifically resides within the text_ads_ajax.php file where the border_color parameter is not properly sanitized or validated before being processed and returned to users. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which categorizes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a classic example of client-side code injection that can be exploited through web applications.
The technical flaw manifests when the plugin processes user-supplied input through the border_color parameter without adequate input validation or output encoding. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when executed in a victim's browser, can perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or executing unauthorized commands within the context of the vulnerable website. The vulnerability exists because the plugin fails to implement proper sanitization techniques for parameters that are directly incorporated into HTML output. This allows malicious actors to inject JavaScript code that gets executed in the browser context of legitimate users who view pages containing the compromised plugin functionality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable attackers to establish persistent access patterns within compromised environments. When exploited successfully, the XSS vulnerability can facilitate more sophisticated attacks including session hijacking, defacement of website content, or redirection to phishing sites that target authenticated users. The vulnerability affects any WordPress installation running the affected plugin version, potentially compromising thousands of websites that have not updated their plugins or applied security patches. Security researchers have noted that such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can be leveraged to create botnets or serve as entry points for further exploitation within network environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-18011 should include immediate plugin updates to versions that address the XSS vulnerability through proper input sanitization and output encoding. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures that include regular monitoring of plugin repositories and security advisories from WordPress.org. Additionally, web application firewalls can provide an additional layer of protection by filtering suspicious input patterns before they reach the vulnerable code. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the 'Command and Control' and 'Credential Access' techniques as attackers can use XSS to establish persistent access or steal user credentials. Organizations should also implement proper input validation at multiple layers including application-level sanitization, output encoding for HTML contexts, and regular security scanning of web applications to identify similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other components of their web infrastructure.