CVE-2018-5367 in WPGlobus Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The WPGlobus plugin 1.9.6 for WordPress has XSS via the wpglobus_option[post_type][post] parameter to wp-admin/options.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-5367 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 particular vulnerability manifests through the wpglobus_option[post_type][post] parameter when processed by the wp-admin/options.php endpoint, creating a dangerous attack vector that directly targets the WordPress administration area. The flaw demonstrates the classic characteristics of an XSS vulnerability where unvalidated user input is directly incorporated into the web page response without proper sanitization or encoding, thereby allowing attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users who access the compromised administrative interface.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious payload and submits it through the vulnerable parameter in the options.php administrative endpoint. This parameter is specifically designed to handle post type configurations within the WPGlobus plugin's settings, but fails to implement proper input validation or output encoding mechanisms. When the WordPress administration interface processes this parameter and renders it in the page without adequate sanitization, it creates an environment where JavaScript code can be executed in the browser context of authenticated administrators. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically affects the server-side processing of user-supplied data within the WordPress plugin ecosystem, making it particularly dangerous due to the privileged access that administrators possess within the WordPress environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the potential to escalate privileges and compromise the entire WordPress installation. An attacker who successfully exploits this XSS vulnerability can potentially steal administrator session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, inject malware, or perform actions on behalf of the administrator. This risk is amplified because the vulnerability exists within the wp-admin area, which represents the most privileged section of a WordPress site where users have full control over content management, plugin configuration, and system settings. The attack surface is further expanded as administrators often maintain elevated privileges and may have access to sensitive data or system configurations that could be compromised through this vector. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-79 which describes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, while the ATT&CK framework would categorize this under T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and potentially T1566 for credential access through social engineering if session hijacking occurs.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-5367 require immediate action including updating the WPGlobus plugin to a version that addresses the XSS vulnerability, which typically involves implementing proper input validation and output encoding measures. The recommended approach includes sanitizing all user inputs through WordPress's built-in sanitization functions and ensuring that all parameters passed to administrative interfaces undergo proper validation before being rendered in HTML output. Administrators should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts and monitor for suspicious activity in their WordPress administration areas. Additionally, regular security audits of installed plugins and themes should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities, while maintaining up-to-date backups ensures rapid recovery in case of successful exploitation. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation in web applications and the necessity of following secure coding practices that prevent the injection of untrusted data into web page contexts.