CVE-2017-20089 in Gwolle Guestbook Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/23/2022
A vulnerability was found in Gwolle Guestbook Plugin 1.7.4. It has been rated as problematic. This issue affects some unknown processing. The manipulation leads to basic cross site scripting. The attack may be initiated remotely.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/23/2022
The vulnerability in Gwolle Guestbook Plugin version 1.7.4 represents a critical security flaw that falls under the category of cross-site scripting attacks. This issue has been classified as problematic due to its potential to compromise user sessions and execute malicious code within the context of affected websites. The vulnerability manifests during the processing of user input within the plugin's functionality, specifically when handling guestbook entries or related data submissions. The affected processing mechanism fails to properly sanitize or validate user-provided content, creating an avenue for attackers to inject malicious scripts that can be executed by other users interacting with the compromised guestbook.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the plugin's codebase. When users submit content through the guestbook interface, the plugin processes this data without sufficient sanitization measures that would normally prevent script execution. This weakness allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that can be stored and subsequently executed in the browsers of other users who view the affected guestbook entries. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through various vectors including direct injection into form fields, manipulation of URL parameters, or even through API endpoints that process guestbook data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user information, manipulate guestbook content, or redirect users to malicious websites. Remote exploitation is particularly concerning as it allows attackers to target vulnerable sites without requiring physical access or local network presence. The attack surface is broad since any website utilizing the affected plugin version becomes potentially compromised, making this vulnerability attractive to automated scanning tools and opportunistic attackers. This type of vulnerability directly violates security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, specifically addressing the risk of cross-site scripting and the importance of input validation.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of the affected plugin to version 1.7.5 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Administrators should also implement additional protective measures such as content security policies, input validation at multiple layers, and regular security audits of installed plugins. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which describes cross-site scripting flaws, and may be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1203 for exploitation of web application vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious script injection patterns. Regular updates to all plugin and theme components remain crucial for maintaining security posture, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of keeping all WordPress components current with security patches. The incident underscores the necessity of proper security testing during plugin development and the implementation of defense-in-depth strategies to protect against such persistent threats in web applications.