CVE-2017-18525 in megamenu Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The megamenu plugin before 2.4 for WordPress has XSS.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/28/2023
The CVE-2017-18525 vulnerability represents a cross-site scripting flaw in the megamenu plugin for WordPress versions prior to 2.4, constituting a critical security weakness that exposes websites to potential exploitation. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which specifically addresses the injection of malicious scripts into web applications that are then executed in the context of other users' browsers. The megamenu plugin serves as a navigation enhancement tool for WordPress sites, allowing administrators to create complex menu structures with dropdowns and hierarchical organization. The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the plugin's handling of user-supplied data, creating an attack surface where malicious actors can inject script code through menu configurations or related administrative inputs.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when unauthenticated or authenticated attackers can manipulate menu items or related parameters in ways that allow script execution in the browsers of other users who view the affected pages. Attackers typically leverage this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that get stored within the plugin's data structures and subsequently rendered in the user interface without proper sanitization. The flaw enables attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of the victim's browser, potentially allowing for session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of website content, or redirection to malicious sites. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in WordPress environments where multiple administrators or users may interact with the plugin's interface, as it can be exploited to compromise the entire site's security posture.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-18525 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable more sophisticated attacks within the WordPress ecosystem. Attackers can leverage the stored XSS vulnerability to manipulate menu structures, redirect users to phishing sites, or inject malicious code that persists across multiple user sessions. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects a widely used plugin, meaning that numerous WordPress sites could be compromised simultaneously. The attack vector typically involves an authenticated user with sufficient privileges to modify menu configurations, though some implementations may allow unauthenticated exploitation through specific input fields. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1548.002 for Application Access Tokens and T1566.001 for Phishing, as it enables attackers to establish persistent access and manipulate user interactions with the website.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-18525 focus primarily on immediate plugin updates to version 2.4 or later, which contain proper input validation and output sanitization measures. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all WordPress plugins remain current with security updates. Additional protective measures include restricting administrative privileges to minimize the attack surface, implementing content security policies to limit script execution, and conducting regular security audits of installed plugins. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of validating and sanitizing all user inputs, particularly in web applications that handle dynamic content generation. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious script injection attempts, while monitoring for unusual administrative activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing help identify similar weaknesses in other plugins or core WordPress components that could provide attackers with alternative paths to compromise the system.