CVE-2017-18545 in invite-anyone Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The invite-anyone plugin before 1.3.16 for WordPress has incorrect escaping of untrusted Dashboard and front-end input.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/26/2023
The CVE-2017-18545 vulnerability affects the invite-anyone plugin for WordPress, specifically versions prior to 1.3.16, and represents a critical security flaw in input validation and output escaping mechanisms. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of user-supplied data within both the WordPress admin dashboard and front-end interfaces of the plugin, creating potential pathways for malicious actors to exploit the system through injection attacks. The flaw occurs when the plugin fails to adequately sanitize or escape data that originates from user interactions, particularly within dashboard controls and front-end forms designed to manage invitations and user access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the plugin's data sanitization processes, where untrusted input from dashboard users and front-end visitors is directly processed and rendered without proper escaping mechanisms. This creates opportunities for cross-site scripting attacks, where malicious code could be injected and executed in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects both administrative interfaces and public-facing elements of the WordPress site, expanding the attack surface significantly. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to properly escape output and handle user-supplied data in web applications. The flaw essentially allows attackers to bypass WordPress's built-in security measures and inject malicious scripts that can persist across user sessions.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-18545 extends beyond simple data corruption or display issues, as it can enable sophisticated attack vectors within the WordPress ecosystem. Attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code, steal user sessions, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of legitimate users, or even establish persistent backdoors within the affected WordPress installations. The vulnerability affects not just the plugin's functionality but can compromise the entire WordPress site, especially when combined with other weaknesses in the broader application stack. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213 - Data from Information Repositories, as it provides attackers with means to extract and manipulate user data through injection points within the plugin's interface. The exposure of this vulnerability through the WordPress plugin ecosystem also creates risks for organizations that rely on third-party extensions, as the compromise of a single plugin can potentially affect multiple sites within the same hosting environment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-18545 primarily focus on immediate remediation through plugin updates to version 1.3.16 or later, which contain proper input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms. System administrators should also implement additional defensive measures including regular security audits of installed plugins, implementation of web application firewalls, and comprehensive monitoring of user activity within dashboard interfaces. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation and output escaping practices as outlined in OWASP Top Ten security principles, particularly focusing on the prevention of injection attacks and ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before processing. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to add an additional layer of protection against script injection attacks, while maintaining regular patch management protocols to address similar vulnerabilities in other WordPress plugins and core components.