CVE-2018-0602 in Email Subscribers
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting vulnerability in Email Subscribers & Newsletters versions prior to 3.5.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2020
The CVE-2018-0602 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Email Subscribers & Newsletters WordPress plugin, affecting versions prior to 3.5.0. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically targeting the plugin's handling of user input without proper sanitization or validation mechanisms. The vulnerability exists in the plugin's processing of unspecified vectors, which suggests that multiple input points within the application could be exploited by malicious actors to inject malicious scripts.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers can manipulate input fields or parameters within the plugin's functionality to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content. This typically happens when user-supplied data is directly rendered in web pages without appropriate encoding or filtering. The vulnerability's impact is significant as it allows attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of a victim's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. Attackers can leverage this weakness to compromise the security of websites running vulnerable plugin versions, particularly targeting administrators or users who have access to the plugin's administrative interfaces.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-0602 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform persistent attacks against website visitors and administrators. When exploited, this vulnerability can facilitate the execution of malicious payloads that may attempt to steal cookies, session tokens, or other sensitive information from authenticated users. The vulnerability's presence in the Email Subscribers & Newsletters plugin creates a persistent threat vector since email subscription forms and newsletter management interfaces often receive input from untrusted sources. This makes the attack surface particularly broad, as the plugin likely processes various types of user data including email addresses, names, and custom form fields that may not be properly sanitized.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.002 for Phishing and T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers can use the XSS vulnerability to deliver malicious payloads that execute commands or scripts in the victim's browser context. The vulnerability's remediation requires immediate patching to version 3.5.0 or later, which should include proper input validation, output encoding, and sanitization routines. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as web application firewalls, content security policies, and regular security audits to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of keeping WordPress plugins updated and implementing proper security controls to prevent unauthorized script execution in web applications, particularly those handling user input through subscription or contact forms.