CVE-2018-0577 in WP Google Map Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting vulnerability in WP Google Map Plugin prior to version 4.0.4 for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/04/2020
The CVE-2018-0577 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the WP Google Map Plugin for WordPress environments. This security weakness affects versions prior to 4.0.4 and creates a pathway for remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected websites. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the plugin's codebase, allowing malicious actors to inject harmful content through unspecified vectors that typically involve user-supplied data or parameters. The flaw specifically targets the plugin's handling of map-related data and user interactions, creating an attack surface where unfiltered content can be executed in the browsers of unsuspecting users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which classifies cross-site scripting as a code injection flaw where untrusted data is directly included in web pages without proper sanitization. The attack occurs when malicious input is processed by the plugin and subsequently rendered in web pages without adequate HTML escaping or context-appropriate encoding. This allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that can execute in the browser context of legitimate users, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability may be triggered through various input points within the plugin's functionality, including map marker data, location parameters, or user-generated content fields that are not properly sanitized.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-0577 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains that leverage the compromised plugin to establish persistent threats within affected WordPress installations. Attackers can use this vulnerability to create backdoors, steal administrator credentials, or manipulate map displays to serve malicious content to visitors. The vulnerability affects WordPress sites that rely on the WP Google Map Plugin for location-based services, potentially compromising thousands of websites if not properly updated. This type of vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which involves phishing with malicious attachments or links, where the compromised plugin serves as a delivery mechanism for malicious web content.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-0577 require immediate action to upgrade to version 4.0.4 or later of the WP Google Map Plugin, which includes proper input validation and output encoding fixes. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as web application firewalls to monitor for suspicious input patterns, regular security audits of installed plugins, and comprehensive input sanitization practices. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date third-party components and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against injection flaws. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any other plugins or components that may be susceptible to similar cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, ensuring that all web applications maintain proper security hygiene to prevent exploitation of such fundamental flaws that can compromise entire website ecosystems.