CVE-2017-2168 in WP Booking System
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting vulnerability in WP Booking System Free version prior to version 1.4 and WP Booking System Premium version prior to version 3.7 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/01/2020
The CVE-2017-2168 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the WP Booking System plugin for WordPress platforms. This vulnerability affects both the free and premium versions of the plugin, with specific versions prior to 1.4 and 3.7 respectively remaining susceptible to exploitation. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the plugin's codebase, creating an attack surface where malicious actors can inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability could be triggered through multiple entry points within the plugin's functionality, potentially including booking forms, administrative interfaces, or user-facing components.
From a technical perspective, this XSS vulnerability operates by failing to properly sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it within web pages. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of victims. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. This weakness enables attackers to bypass the same-origin policy that normally protects web browsers from malicious script execution across different domains, creating a significant security risk for websites utilizing the affected plugin.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-2168 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains within compromised WordPress environments. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access through session manipulation, steal administrator credentials, or redirect users to malicious sites. The vulnerability's presence in both free and premium versions indicates that the underlying code quality issues affect the entire plugin ecosystem, potentially exposing thousands of WordPress installations to exploitation. This type of vulnerability particularly impacts businesses relying on booking systems for customer interactions, as compromised systems could lead to data breaches, loss of customer trust, and potential regulatory compliance violations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected installations to versions 1.4 and 3.7 respectively for the free and premium editions. Administrators should implement comprehensive input validation measures and output encoding practices to prevent similar issues in other custom plugins or themes. The remediation process should include thorough security auditing of all WordPress plugins and themes to identify potential XSS vulnerabilities, aligning with ATT&CK framework technique T1190 which addresses exploitation of vulnerabilities in web applications. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers, regular security monitoring, and maintaining updated security frameworks can help prevent exploitation of similar weaknesses in the future. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to provide additional protection layers against XSS attacks while the core vulnerabilities are being addressed.