CVE-2017-20008 in myCred Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/29/2021
The myCred WordPress plugin before 1.7.8 does not sanitise and escape the user parameter before outputting it back in the Points Log admin dashboard, leading to a Reflected Cross-Site Scripting
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/02/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-20008 affects the myCred WordPress plugin version 1.7.7 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that exposes administrators to reflected cross-site scripting attacks. This issue resides within the Points Log admin dashboard functionality where user input parameters are inadequately processed before being rendered back to the browser. The vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly sanitise and escape the user parameter, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code that executes in the context of an authenticated administrator's browser session.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper validation or escaping mechanisms. The flaw occurs when the plugin receives a user parameter through HTTP requests and directly incorporates it into the HTML output of the Points Log dashboard without appropriate sanitisation. This reflected XSS vulnerability allows attackers to craft malicious URLs that, when visited by an administrator, execute malicious scripts in the administrator's browser, potentially leading to full administrative compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform actions with the privileges of the compromised administrator. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, modify plugin settings, access sensitive user data, or even install malicious plugins that persist on the compromised WordPress installation. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the attack payload is delivered via a malicious URL that must be clicked by an administrator, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrators frequently navigate to various URLs or where social engineering attacks are prevalent.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-20008 primarily involve upgrading to the patched version 1.7.8 or later of the myCred plugin, which implements proper input sanitisation and output escaping mechanisms. Security administrators should also implement additional protective measures including network-level filtering to restrict access to administrative interfaces, regular monitoring of plugin updates, and the implementation of content security policies to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and output escaping in web applications, as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and MITRE ATT&CK framework's application layer attacks category, where such flaws represent common entry points for privilege escalation and persistent threats. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their WordPress installations to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins and themes, as this represents a pattern of inadequate sanitisation practices that could affect multiple components of the web application stack.