CVE-2017-20099 in Analytics Stats Counter Statistics Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/27/2022
A vulnerability was found in Analytics Stats Counter Statistics Plugin 1.2.2.5 and classified as critical. This issue affects some unknown processing. The manipulation leads to code injection. The attack may be initiated remotely.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/27/2022
The Analytics Stats Counter Statistics Plugin version 1.2.2.5 contains a critical code injection vulnerability that represents a significant security risk for affected systems. This vulnerability falls under the category of code injection flaws, which are among the most dangerous types of security vulnerabilities as they allow attackers to execute arbitrary code within the target system. The flaw exists in the plugin's processing mechanisms and can be exploited through remote attack vectors, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that rely on this plugin for analytics functionality. The vulnerability's classification as critical indicates that it can be easily exploited by attackers without requiring special privileges or conditions, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The attack surface is broad as the plugin likely processes user input or data from external sources that are not properly sanitized before being executed within the application context. This type of vulnerability directly violates security principles and can enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, modify system behavior, or establish persistent access to compromised environments.
The technical exploitation of this code injection vulnerability occurs when malicious input is processed by the plugin without proper validation or sanitization measures. Attackers can manipulate the plugin's input handling mechanisms to inject malicious code that gets executed within the application's runtime environment. This typically involves crafting specially formatted input that bypasses existing security controls and is subsequently interpreted as executable code rather than benign data. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not need physical access to the system or local network privileges to carry out the attack. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple code execution as it can enable attackers to perform privilege escalation, data exfiltration, or establish backdoors within the affected systems. This aligns with attack patterns documented in the attack technique matrix where code injection is categorized as a common method for achieving initial access and maintaining persistence within target environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and can result in complete system compromise, data breaches, and unauthorized access to sensitive information. Organizations using this plugin are at risk of having their analytics systems compromised, which could lead to the exposure of user data, session information, or other sensitive metrics that the plugin tracks. The remote attack vector means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the internet, making it particularly dangerous for public-facing web applications. The vulnerability affects unknown processing within the plugin, suggesting that the attack surface may be broader than initially apparent, potentially encompassing various input points or data processing functions. This type of vulnerability can also enable attackers to perform reconnaissance activities, escalate privileges, or use the compromised system as a launch point for further attacks against other systems within the network infrastructure. The severity classification indicates that this vulnerability can be exploited automatically by automated attack tools, making it a high-priority remediation target for security teams.
Mitigation strategies for this critical vulnerability should include immediate patching or updating of the Analytics Stats Counter Statistics Plugin to a version that addresses the code injection flaw. Organizations should implement input validation and sanitization measures to prevent malicious code from being processed by the plugin. Network segmentation and access controls can help limit the potential impact of exploitation by restricting access to systems running the vulnerable plugin. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins or components of the web application stack. The implementation of web application firewalls and runtime application self-protection mechanisms can provide additional layers of defense against code injection attacks. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious activities related to the plugin's functionality, and incident response procedures should be updated to address potential exploitation of this vulnerability. Organizations should also consider disabling or removing the plugin entirely if immediate patching is not feasible, as the risk of exploitation outweighs the functionality it provides. This vulnerability aligns with common weakness enumerations in the cwe database that categorize code injection as a fundamental security flaw requiring immediate attention and remediation to prevent successful exploitation attempts by threat actors.