CVE-2017-6102 in rockhoist-badges Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Persistent XSS in wordpress plugin rockhoist-badges v1.2.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/03/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6102 represents a persistent cross-site scripting flaw within the rockhoist-badges WordPress plugin version 1.2.2. This type of vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages that are then executed by other users who view those pages. The issue specifically affects the plugin's handling of user input, creating a persistent XSS vector that can be exploited across multiple sessions and user interactions. The vulnerability demonstrates a critical failure in input validation and output sanitization within the plugin's codebase.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper sanitization of user-supplied data within the plugin's badge creation and display functionality. When administrators or users create badges with malicious script content in fields such as badge titles, descriptions, or custom attributes, the plugin fails to properly escape or filter this input before rendering it in the web page context. This allows attackers to inject JavaScript code that executes in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the compromised user accounts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a classic case of insufficient input validation and output encoding.
The operational impact of this persistent XSS vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can be leveraged to establish long-term footholds within WordPress environments. Attackers can craft malicious badge content that persists in the database and executes whenever affected users view the badge display pages. This persistence mechanism makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous for administrators who may unknowingly create or encounter malicious badges, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive administrative functions. The attack can be amplified through social engineering tactics where users are tricked into creating or viewing malicious badges, and the vulnerability can be exploited across multiple WordPress installations that use the affected plugin version.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-6102 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the XSS vulnerability, as the original vulnerable version 1.2.2 has been superseded by patched releases. System administrators should implement comprehensive input validation measures and output encoding practices throughout their WordPress environments, ensuring that all user-supplied content undergoes proper sanitization before being stored or rendered. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script execution, while regular security audits of installed plugins should be conducted to identify other potential vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns, and maintain detailed monitoring of user activity within WordPress administrative interfaces to identify potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and the critical need for proper input validation across all web application components.