CVE-2018-5657 in responsive-coming-soon-page Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in the responsive-coming-soon-page plugin 1.1.18 for WordPress. XSS exists via the wp-admin/admin.php counter_title_icon parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-5657 affects the responsive-coming-soon-page plugin version 1.1.18 for WordPress, representing a cross-site scripting vulnerability that poses significant security risks to affected websites. This issue specifically manifests through the wp-admin/admin.php endpoint where the counter_title_icon parameter fails to properly sanitize user input, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary script code into the administrative interface. The vulnerability exists within the plugin's handling of administrative parameters, making it particularly concerning as it targets the WordPress administration area where privileged users interact with the system.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the plugin's administrative interface. When administrators navigate to the wp-admin/admin.php page and interact with the counter_title_icon parameter, the plugin does not sufficiently filter or escape special characters that could be interpreted as executable code by web browsers. This lack of proper sanitization allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that, when executed in the context of an authenticated administrator's browser session, can perform unauthorized actions. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213 which covers data from information repositories, particularly focusing on web application vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with potential access to administrative functions and sensitive data within the WordPress environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can execute malicious scripts in the context of any administrator who visits the affected page, potentially leading to complete compromise of the WordPress installation. This includes the ability to modify content, add new users, install malicious plugins, or even exfiltrate sensitive information from the site. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal privileges to exploit and can be leveraged to escalate attacks within the WordPress ecosystem.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-5657 should begin with immediate plugin updates to versions that address the XSS vulnerability, as the original plugin version 1.1.18 is known to contain this flaw. Administrators should also implement proper input validation measures at the application level, ensuring that all parameters passed to administrative interfaces undergo rigorous sanitization before being processed or displayed. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth, though they should not replace proper code-level fixes. Regular security audits of WordPress plugins and themes remain essential, as this vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor input handling issues can create significant security risks. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the fix does not introduce regressions while maintaining the intended functionality of the plugin's administrative features.