CVE-2017-18517 in bws-pinterest Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The bws-pinterest plugin before 1.0.5 for WordPress has multiple XSS issues.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2023
The CVE-2017-18517 vulnerability affects the bws-pinterest plugin version 1.0.4 and earlier for WordPress, presenting multiple cross-site scripting vulnerabilities that pose significant security risks to affected websites. This plugin, designed to integrate pinterest functionality into wordpress sites, contained insecure input handling mechanisms that allowed attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user-supplied data within the plugin's codebase, creating opportunities for persistent and reflected cross-site scripting attacks that could compromise user sessions and potentially lead to full site compromise.
The technical flaw manifests through multiple vectors within the plugin's implementation where user input is directly incorporated into HTML output without proper encoding or validation. Attackers can exploit these weaknesses by crafting malicious payloads that leverage the plugin's functionality to inject javascript code into wordpress admin panels or frontend interfaces. The vulnerability affects both reflected and stored XSS scenarios, meaning malicious scripts can be executed when users navigate to specific pages or when content is stored and subsequently displayed to other users. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a critical weakness in web application security that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in the context of a user's browser session.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, and potentially gain administrative access to compromised wordpress installations. When combined with other vulnerabilities or attack vectors, this XSS flaw can serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks that may lead to complete system compromise. The persistent nature of some of these vulnerabilities means that malicious scripts can remain active for extended periods, continuously affecting any user who accesses the compromised pages. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566 for phishing with malicious attachments or links, as attackers can use these XSS flaws to deliver malicious payloads to unsuspecting users.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-18517 require immediate plugin updates to version 1.0.5 or later, which contain proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. System administrators should also implement additional security measures including regular security audits of installed plugins, implementation of web application firewalls, and enforcement of Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities. The WordPress core team recommends thorough plugin vetting processes before installation and maintaining updated security practices including regular backups and monitoring for suspicious activities. Organizations should also consider implementing automated scanning tools to detect similar vulnerabilities in their web applications and establish incident response procedures for rapid remediation when such vulnerabilities are identified in their environments.