CVE-2018-16256 in WP All Import Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
There is an XSS vulnerability in WP All Import plugin 3.4.9 for WordPress via Add Filtering Options(Add Rule).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/05/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2018-16256 represents a cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the WP All Import plugin version 3.4.9 for WordPress platforms. This security weakness specifically manifests within the Add Filtering Options feature, particularly when utilizing the Add Rule functionality. The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the plugin's administrative interface, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into the application's user interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly sanitize user-supplied input when processing filter rules within the import workflow. When administrators use the Add Rule functionality to define filtering conditions for data imports, the plugin accepts and processes parameters without adequate validation of special characters or script tags. This processing occurs within the context of the WordPress admin panel where the output is rendered directly to users without proper HTML escaping or context-appropriate sanitization. The flaw aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as weaknesses that allow attackers to inject malicious client-side scripts into web applications viewed by other users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or theft. An authenticated attacker with administrative privileges or the ability to manipulate import workflows can execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, privilege escalation, or data exfiltration. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it exists within a plugin that handles data import operations, which often involves processing sensitive information from external sources. Attackers could leverage this flaw to inject persistent scripts that would execute whenever administrators view the import settings or filter configurations, creating a vector for ongoing exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-16256 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the XSS vulnerability through proper input sanitization and output encoding. System administrators must ensure that all WordPress installations maintain current plugin versions and implement comprehensive security monitoring to detect unauthorized modifications. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and output encoding practices that align with OWASP Top Ten security recommendations and ATT&CK framework techniques for command and control operations. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, while maintaining regular security audits to identify similar vulnerabilities in other third-party components.