CVE-2018-19287 in Ninja Forms Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
XSS in the Ninja Forms plugin before 3.3.18 for WordPress allows Remote Attackers to execute JavaScript via the includes/Admin/Menus/Submissions.php (aka submissions page) begin_date, end_date, or form_id parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/23/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2018-19287 represents a cross-site scripting flaw in the Ninja Forms WordPress plugin affecting versions prior to 3.3.18. This vulnerability resides within the administrative submissions page of the plugin where attackers can inject malicious JavaScript code through three specific parameters: begin_date, end_date, and form_id. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as a code injection attack where malicious scripts are executed in the victim's browser. The attack vector is remote, meaning no user interaction is required beyond accessing the vulnerable page, making it particularly dangerous for administrators who regularly access the plugin's submission management interface.
The technical exploitation occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input for any of the three vulnerable parameters in the Submissions.php file. When the WordPress administrator visits the submissions page with these crafted parameters, the plugin fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before rendering it in the HTML output. This allows the attacker's JavaScript code to execute within the context of the administrator's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, privilege escalation, or data exfiltration. The vulnerability specifically affects the administrative interface, making it particularly dangerous as it could be exploited to gain elevated privileges within the WordPress installation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it provides attackers with a potential foothold for more sophisticated attacks. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could access sensitive form data, manipulate submission records, or even execute arbitrary code on the server if additional vulnerabilities exist. The attack could be executed through various methods including phishing emails containing malicious links, or by compromising other parts of the WordPress site to inject the malicious parameters. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for JavaScript execution and T1566 for credential access through web application attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-19287 primarily involve upgrading the Ninja Forms plugin to version 3.3.18 or later where the input sanitization has been properly implemented. Additionally, administrators should implement input validation at multiple layers including web application firewalls, content security policies, and regular security audits of WordPress plugins. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper parameter validation and output escaping in web applications, particularly within administrative interfaces where elevated privileges exist. Organizations should also consider implementing role-based access controls and monitoring for unusual administrative activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The fix implemented by the plugin developers should include proper HTML escaping of all user-supplied input before rendering it in the page output, which aligns with secure coding practices recommended by both OWASP and the CWE guidelines for preventing cross-site scripting vulnerabilities.