CVE-2017-18610 in magic-fields Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The magic-fields plugin before 1.7.2 for WordPress has XSS via the RCCWP_CreateCustomFieldPage.php custom-group-id parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2023
The CVE-2017-18610 vulnerability represents a cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the magic-fields plugin for WordPress systems. This vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to 1.7.2 and resides within the RCCWP_CreateCustomFieldPage.php component of the plugin. The issue manifests through the custom-group-id parameter which is improperly sanitized, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject harmful scripts into the application's response. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting attacks where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious payload and injects it through the custom-group-id parameter in the RCCWP_CreateCustomFieldPage.php file. When the vulnerable WordPress site processes this input without adequate sanitization, the malicious script gets executed within the context of other users' browsers who visit the affected pages. This creates a persistent threat vector where authenticated users could unknowingly execute malicious code, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further compromise of the WordPress installation. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and inadequate output encoding, which are fundamental security principles that should be implemented at every layer of web application development.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to administrative functions within the WordPress environment. Attackers can leverage this XSS flaw to steal cookies, session tokens, or other sensitive information from authenticated users. The magic-fields plugin's functionality as a custom field management tool makes this particularly dangerous since it operates within the WordPress admin interface where privileged users regularly perform administrative tasks. This creates a scenario where an attacker could potentially gain complete control over the WordPress site, modify content, add malicious users, or even deploy malware through the compromised administrative sessions. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and control communication through web shells or malicious scripts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-18610 primarily involve immediate patching of the magic-fields plugin to version 1.7.2 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and validation for the custom-group-id parameter. System administrators should also implement comprehensive input validation at multiple layers, including server-side validation and output encoding to prevent malicious payloads from being executed. Network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect suspicious parameter patterns that could indicate attempted exploitation of XSS vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing a web application firewall with XSS protection rules can provide an additional layer of defense. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies to restrict script execution and reduce the impact of potential XSS attacks. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other plugins or custom code, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input handling in WordPress ecosystem components. The fix for this vulnerability demonstrates the critical need for proper security practices in plugin development and the importance of keeping all WordPress components updated to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.