CVE-2017-18502 in subscriber Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The subscriber plugin before 1.3.5 for WordPress has multiple XSS issues.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/23/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-18502 affects the subscriber plugin for WordPress versions prior to 1.3.5, presenting multiple cross-site scripting vulnerabilities that pose significant security risks to affected websites. This issue resides within the plugin's handling of user input and output rendering processes, creating opportunities for malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization and validation of data passed through various parameters and form fields within the plugin's functionality.
Multiple XSS flaws exist throughout the plugin's codebase, specifically targeting areas where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into HTML output without proper encoding or filtering mechanisms. Attackers can exploit these weaknesses by crafting malicious payloads that leverage the plugin's data processing routines to execute scripts in the context of a victim's browser session. The vulnerability affects both reflected and stored XSS scenarios, allowing threat actors to potentially steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious websites. These issues are particularly concerning given that WordPress plugins often serve as attack vectors due to their widespread use and the permissions they may grant to authenticated users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as successful exploitation could lead to complete compromise of user accounts and potentially entire WordPress installations. An attacker who successfully exploits these XSS vulnerabilities could hijack user sessions, modify content, or gain administrative privileges if the affected user has elevated permissions. The vulnerability affects the plugin's subscriber management functionality, which typically handles user registration, profile updates, and related data processing. This creates a pathway for attackers to manipulate subscriber data, potentially gaining access to sensitive user information or using compromised accounts to launch further attacks against the website's infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate plugin updates to version 1.3.5 or later, which contain proper input validation and output encoding fixes. System administrators should also implement additional security measures including web application firewalls, content security policies, and regular security audits of installed plugins. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which describes cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1548.002 for privilege escalation through malicious script execution. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially affected plugins and ensure comprehensive patch management protocols are in place. Regular monitoring of plugin repositories and security advisories remains essential for maintaining WordPress site security posture and preventing exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the future.