CVE-2017-2243 in Responsive Lightbox
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting vulnerability in Responsive Lightbox prior to version 1.7.2 allows an attacker to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/31/2020
The CVE-2017-2243 vulnerability represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the Responsive Lightbox plugin for WordPress systems. This vulnerability affects versions prior to 1.7.2 and creates a significant security risk by allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts or HTML code into web pages. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the plugin's codebase, which fails to properly filter user-supplied data before rendering it on web pages. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple entry points within the plugin could potentially be exploited, making the attack surface broader than initially apparent. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category for Cross-Site Scripting, specifically representing a weakness where untrusted data is directly incorporated into web page content without proper validation or encoding. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in the context of WordPress ecosystems where plugins often have broad access to user data and system functionality, creating potential pathways for more severe attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the plugin's failure to adequately sanitize user inputs that are subsequently displayed on web pages. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious input that includes script tags or other HTML elements which are then executed in the browsers of unsuspecting users who visit affected pages. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. When users interact with the vulnerable plugin, their browsers execute the injected code in the context of the legitimate website, bypassing normal security restrictions. This allows attackers to perform actions such as stealing cookies, modifying page content, or redirecting users to phishing sites. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would align with techniques involving client-side attacks and credential access through web-based exploitation methods.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-2243 is substantial for WordPress site administrators and end-users. Organizations using vulnerable versions of Responsive Lightbox face potential data breaches, user privacy violations, and reputational damage when attackers successfully exploit this vulnerability. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it can be executed through various means including user comments, uploaded media files, or any input field that the plugin processes. Once exploited, the vulnerability could allow attackers to establish persistent access to user sessions, potentially leading to full system compromise. The widespread use of WordPress plugins means that many websites could be affected simultaneously, creating a scalable attack scenario. Security monitoring becomes critical as detecting such attacks requires monitoring for unusual script execution patterns and unusual user behavior that might indicate successful exploitation. The vulnerability also impacts the overall security posture of WordPress installations, as compromised plugins can serve as entry points for broader network attacks against connected systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2243 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to version 1.7.2 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the XSS vulnerability. Administrators should also implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent similar issues in other parts of their web applications. Regular security audits of installed plugins and themes should be conducted to identify and remediate vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. Network monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect unusual script execution patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing content security policies can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Security awareness training for administrators is crucial to ensure they understand the importance of keeping plugins updated and recognizing potential signs of compromise. The vulnerability highlights the critical need for maintaining up-to-date software components and implementing robust security practices across all web application layers to prevent successful exploitation of cross-site scripting vulnerabilities.