CVE-2017-18555 in booking-sms Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The booking-sms plugin before 1.1.0 for WordPress has XSS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/28/2023
The CVE-2017-18555 vulnerability represents a cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the booking-sms plugin for WordPress systems prior to version 1.1.0. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting attacks where malicious scripts are injected into web applications. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's codebase, creating an exploitable condition that allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code through user-controllable parameters.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the booking-sms plugin fails to properly sanitize user inputs before rendering them in web pages. Attackers can exploit this weakness by submitting malicious payloads through forms or parameters that the plugin processes without adequate validation. When the vulnerable plugin displays this unfiltered input in the user interface, the injected JavaScript executes within the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further exploitation of the compromised systems. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects a plugin that likely handles booking-related information, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise user data or gain unauthorized access to booking systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities within the compromised WordPress environment. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to steal administrator credentials, inject malicious content into booking confirmations, or redirect users to phishing sites. The attack surface is amplified when considering that WordPress plugins often have elevated privileges and access to sensitive data, making the exploitation of such vulnerabilities particularly dangerous. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor security practices in input sanitization and output encoding, which are fundamental requirements for preventing XSS attacks according to industry best practices and security frameworks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-18555 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to version 1.1.0 or later where the XSS vulnerability has been patched. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures such as input validation at multiple layers, output encoding for all dynamic content, and regular security audits of installed plugins. The vulnerability highlights the importance of keeping all WordPress components updated and following the principle of least privilege when configuring plugin permissions. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious user inputs and anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. According to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability would be classified under the technique of "Cross-Site Scripting" within the Execution and Persistence domains, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security controls across multiple attack vectors and the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.