CVE-2017-18530 in rating-bws Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The rating-bws plugin before 0.2 for WordPress has multiple XSS issues.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2023
The CVE-2017-18530 vulnerability affects the rating-bws plugin for WordPress versions prior to 02, exposing multiple cross-site scripting flaws that represent significant security risks for affected websites. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically targeting the WordPress content management system where user input is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to users. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's codebase, creating opportunities for malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into web pages viewed by other users.
The technical flaw manifests when the plugin processes user-supplied data through various input fields and parameters without implementing proper sanitization measures. Attackers can exploit these vulnerabilities by crafting malicious payloads that get executed in the browsers of unsuspecting users who visit affected pages. The vulnerability affects multiple areas within the plugin's functionality where user input is accepted, including rating forms, comment sections, and configuration settings. These XSS flaws can be categorized as reflected and stored XSS attacks, depending on how the malicious code is delivered and persisted within the application's database or session storage.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary code in the context of the victim's browser session. This capability allows threat actors to perform actions such as stealing cookies, session tokens, and other sensitive information that could lead to unauthorized access to WordPress administrative panels. The vulnerability also enables more sophisticated attacks including phishing attempts, credential harvesting, and potential privilege escalation within the affected WordPress installations. Given that WordPress powers over 40% of websites globally, the widespread use of this plugin increases the potential attack surface significantly.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-18530 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to version 02 or later, which contain the necessary security patches to address the XSS vulnerabilities. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output escaping mechanisms throughout their WordPress installations, following the principle of least privilege for plugin functionality. Security measures should include regular security audits of installed plugins, implementation of web application firewalls, and monitoring for suspicious activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of adhering to secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 for credential harvesting through malicious web content, emphasizing the need for robust defense-in-depth strategies. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to further reduce the impact of potential XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed within the browser context.