CVE-2018-1000508 in WP ULike
Summary
by MITRE
WP ULike version 2.8.1, 3.1 contains a Cross Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Settings screen that can result in allows unauthorised users to do almost anything an admin can. This attack appear to be exploitable via Admin must visit logs page. This vulnerability appears to have been fixed in 3.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1000508 affects WP ULike plugin versions 2.8.1 and 3.1, representing a critical cross site scripting flaw that undermines the security posture of WordPress installations. This vulnerability resides within the plugin's settings screen and specifically targets the logs page functionality, creating a significant attack surface that could be exploited by unauthorized users to gain elevated privileges. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of administrative sessions, potentially enabling them to perform actions equivalent to those available to legitimate administrators.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross site scripting as a code injection flaw where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web page content without proper sanitization or encoding. The attack vector requires an administrator to visit the logs page, making it a server-side request forgery or privilege escalation vulnerability that leverages the administrative context to execute malicious payloads. This particular implementation allows attackers to inject scripts that can manipulate the plugin's administrative interface, potentially leading to complete compromise of the affected WordPress installation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform administrative actions that could include modifying plugin settings, accessing sensitive data, or even installing malicious code. The fact that the vulnerability requires an administrator to visit the logs page suggests it operates as a stored XSS attack, where malicious content is permanently stored on the server and executed when administrators access the vulnerable page. This creates a persistent threat that could be exploited repeatedly as long as administrators continue to view the logs.
The fix implemented in version 3.2 addresses this vulnerability through proper input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that prevent malicious scripts from being executed within the administrative interface. Security best practices recommend immediate patching of this vulnerability, as the attack requires minimal user interaction beyond the administrative visit to the logs page. Organizations should implement monitoring for suspicious administrative activities and consider additional security measures such as web application firewalls to mitigate potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security audits and prompt patch management, particularly for plugins that handle administrative functions and user data processing. This issue demonstrates how seemingly minor flaws in plugin interfaces can create significant security risks when they occur in contexts where privileged users interact with potentially malicious content.