CVE-2018-5364 in WPGlobus Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The WPGlobus plugin 1.9.6 for WordPress has XSS via the wpglobus_option[browser_redirect][redirect_by_language] parameter to wp-admin/options.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-5364 resides within the WPGlobus plugin version 1.9.6 for WordPress, representing a cross-site scripting flaw that enables malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts into the application's administrative interface. This vulnerability specifically manifests through the wpglobus_option[browser_redirect][redirect_by_language] parameter when processing requests to the wp-admin/options.php endpoint, creating a persistent vector for attacker-controlled code execution within the context of authenticated administrator sessions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs due to insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the plugin's configuration handling mechanism. When administrators access the WordPress settings interface to modify browser redirection options, the plugin fails to properly escape or validate user-supplied data before rendering it back to the browser. This represents a classic case of reflected cross-site scripting as described by CWE-79, where malicious input flows directly into the application's output without adequate sanitization, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of the victim's browser session.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the potential to escalate privileges and gain full administrative control over affected WordPress installations. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could execute arbitrary code within the administrator's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, data exfiltration, or the installation of additional malicious plugins. The attack requires minimal privileges since the vulnerability exists within the administrative interface where legitimate administrators already possess elevated access rights, making it particularly dangerous for WordPress sites that rely heavily on plugin functionality.
The attack vector for this vulnerability follows the typical pattern outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, where attackers leverage web-based interfaces to inject malicious payloads. The exploitation process involves crafting a malicious URL containing XSS payloads targeting the vulnerable parameter, which when accessed by an administrator, executes the attacker's code in the victim's browser. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1548.002 related to abuse of group privileges, as it exploits the elevated permissions of administrative users to achieve further compromise of the affected systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-5364 should begin with immediate patching of the WPGlobus plugin to version 1.9.7 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the XSS vulnerability. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures across their WordPress installations, ensuring that all user-supplied data passing through administrative interfaces undergoes proper sanitization before being rendered back to browsers. Network-based protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional layers of defense by detecting and blocking suspicious parameter values, though these should not be considered replacements for proper code-level fixes. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual administrative access patterns and suspicious URL parameters that may indicate attempted exploitation of similar vulnerabilities. The remediation process should also involve reviewing other plugins for similar input validation issues and implementing automated security scanning tools to identify potential cross-site scripting vulnerabilities within the WordPress ecosystem.