CVE-2018-1002002 in Arigato Autoresponder
Summary
by MITRE
There is a reflected XSS vulnerability in WordPress Arigato Autoresponder and News letter v2.5.1.8 This vulnerability requires administrative privileges to exploit.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/16/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1002002 represents a reflected cross-site scripting flaw within the WordPress Arigato Autoresponder and News letter plugin version 2.5.1.8. This security weakness resides in the plugin's handling of user input within the admin interface, specifically affecting the administrative functionality of the WordPress content management system. The reflected XSS vulnerability occurs when maliciously crafted input is processed and returned to users without proper sanitization, creating an avenue for attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to possess administrative privileges within the WordPress environment, which significantly limits the attack surface but does not eliminate the risk entirely. The flaw manifests when administrators interact with specific plugin interfaces that fail to properly validate and sanitize input parameters. This allows an authenticated attacker with administrative rights to craft malicious payloads that get reflected back to the administrator's browser session, potentially executing arbitrary JavaScript code. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, where insufficient input validation and output encoding creates opportunities for attackers to inject malicious scripts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it provides a potential foothold for more sophisticated attacks within the WordPress environment. An attacker with administrative access could leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges, steal session cookies, modify plugin configurations, or even gain complete control over the WordPress installation. The reflected nature of the XSS means that the malicious payload must be delivered through a specific user interaction, typically via phishing emails or social engineering tactics that prompt administrators to click on malicious links. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566 for credential harvesting through social engineering approaches.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-1002002 primarily focus on immediate plugin updates to versions that address the reflected XSS vulnerability. WordPress administrators should ensure all plugins remain current with the latest security patches, particularly since this vulnerability affects a specific version of the Arigato Autoresponder plugin. The implementation of proper input validation and output encoding practices within the plugin's codebase would prevent the reflection of malicious payloads. Additionally, administrators should employ multi-factor authentication, maintain strict access controls, and implement web application firewalls to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Regular security audits of installed plugins and themes, along with monitoring for unusual administrative activities, provide additional layers of defense against potential exploitation of this and similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date WordPress plugins and the necessity of implementing comprehensive security measures to protect administrative interfaces from authenticated attacks.