CVE-2018-0585 in Ultimate Member Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting vulnerability in Ultimate Member plugin prior to version 2.0.4 for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/05/2020
The CVE-2018-0585 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Ultimate Member WordPress plugin, affecting versions prior to 2.0.4. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws. The Ultimate Member plugin is widely used for creating user registration, login, and profile management systems on WordPress sites, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations relying on WordPress for their digital infrastructure.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the plugin's codebase. Attackers can exploit this weakness by injecting malicious scripts or HTML content through unspecified vectors, which typically involve user-controlled input fields or parameters that are not properly escaped or validated before being rendered in web pages. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script injection as it can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code in the context of the victim's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that multiple entry points within the plugin could be compromised, making the vulnerability particularly difficult to fully assess and secure against.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for WordPress sites using the Ultimate Member plugin, as it allows remote attackers to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. The attack surface is broad since the plugin handles user registration, profile management, and community features where user input is frequently processed and displayed. Organizations may experience unauthorized access to user accounts, data breaches, or reputational damage if attackers successfully exploit this vulnerability. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as malicious scripts can be executed to manipulate user sessions or redirect traffic. Additionally, it maps to T1566 for Phishing, as attackers could craft malicious payloads that appear legitimate to users, leveraging the compromised plugin to deliver harmful content.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediately updating the Ultimate Member plugin to version 2.0.4 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the XSS vulnerability. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation measures, including the use of proper HTML escaping techniques and Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit script execution. Regular security audits of WordPress plugins and themes are essential, along with maintaining updated security monitoring tools that can detect anomalous script injection attempts. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection, while user education about suspicious website behavior remains crucial for overall security posture. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of keeping WordPress plugins updated and following security best practices such as the principle of least privilege and regular security assessments to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.