CVE-2018-17946 in Slideshow Gallery Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The Tribulant Slideshow Gallery plugin before 1.6.6.1 for WordPress has XSS via the id, method, Gallerymessage, Galleryerror, or Galleryupdated parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2020
The Tribulant Slideshow Gallery plugin for WordPress contains a cross-site scripting vulnerability that affects versions prior to 1.6.6.1. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the plugin's handling of multiple HTTP parameters. The affected parameters include id, method, Gallerymessage, Galleryerror, and Galleryupdated, all of which are processed without adequate sanitization measures that would prevent malicious script execution. The vulnerability manifests when these parameters are passed through the plugin's administrative interface or frontend components, allowing attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the context of authenticated administrator sessions.
The technical flaw represents a classic case of improper input validation where user-supplied data flows directly into HTML output without appropriate encoding or sanitization. This weakness enables attackers to craft malicious URLs containing script payloads that, when executed, can perform actions such as stealing administrator cookies, modifying plugin settings, or redirecting users to malicious sites. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it targets the WordPress administrative interface, where attackers can leverage elevated privileges to compromise the entire WordPress installation. From a cybersecurity perspective, this issue aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities due to insufficient input validation, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting languages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement. An attacker who successfully exploits this XSS vulnerability can establish persistent access to the WordPress administration panel, potentially leading to complete compromise of the website. The attacker could modify or delete content, install malware, or use the compromised admin session to launch further attacks against the network. Additionally, the vulnerability affects the integrity of the plugin's administrative messages and error handling mechanisms, which could be used to confuse administrators or mask malicious activities. The widespread adoption of the Tribulant Slideshow Gallery plugin increases the potential attack surface, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where multiple websites use the same vulnerable plugin version.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate remediation through plugin updates to version 1.6.6.1 or later, which contain the necessary input sanitization patches. Administrators should also implement additional security measures such as input validation at the web application firewall level and regular security audits of installed plugins. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring that administrators only have necessary permissions and by implementing multi-factor authentication. Regular monitoring of plugin vulnerabilities through security scanners and threat intelligence feeds can help identify similar issues before they are exploited. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to provide additional protection against XSS attacks, though this should not be relied upon as the sole defense mechanism. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of keeping all WordPress components updated and following secure coding practices that prevent user input from being directly embedded in output without proper sanitization.