CVE-2017-18496 in htaccess Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The htaccess plugin before 1.7.6 for WordPress has multiple XSS issues.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/23/2023
The htaccess plugin for WordPress versions prior to 1.7.6 contained multiple cross-site scripting vulnerabilities that exposed WordPress installations to significant security risks. These vulnerabilities arose from insufficient input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's codebase, particularly affecting the plugin's administrative interfaces and user-facing components. The flaw allowed malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or unauthorized administrative actions.
The technical implementation of these XSS vulnerabilities stemmed from the plugin's failure to properly sanitize user inputs before rendering them in HTML contexts. Attackers could exploit these weaknesses by submitting malicious payloads through various input fields within the plugin's configuration interfaces or through manipulated URL parameters. The vulnerability manifested when the plugin failed to escape special characters in user-supplied data, allowing script tags or other malicious code to execute within the browser context of authenticated users. This represents a classic type 1 or type 2 cross-site scripting flaw according to CWE-79, where the application does not validate or escape user-provided data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extended beyond simple script execution, as it could enable attackers to escalate privileges within WordPress environments. When authenticated users with administrative capabilities accessed compromised plugin interfaces, attackers could potentially steal session cookies, modify plugin configurations, or gain full control over affected WordPress installations. The vulnerability particularly affected WordPress sites where the htaccess plugin was actively used for managing .htaccess file permissions and access controls, making it a prime target for exploitation in environments with multiple administrators or users with elevated privileges. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting and T1548.002 for abuse of group privileges.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability required immediate plugin updates to version 1.7.6 or later, which incorporated proper input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms. Organizations should have implemented comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all WordPress plugins remained current with security updates. Additional protective measures included implementing content security policies to limit script execution, conducting regular security audits of installed plugins, and establishing monitoring protocols for unusual administrative activities. The vulnerability also highlighted the importance of input validation at multiple layers within web applications, reinforcing the principles outlined in OWASP Top Ten 2017 category a03 and the broader security framework of secure coding practices.