CVE-2018-5659 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 coming-soon_title parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-5659 resides within the responsive-coming-soon-page plugin version 1.1.18 for WordPress, representing a cross-site scripting flaw that compromises user security. This issue specifically manifests through the wp-admin/admin.php endpoint where the coming-soon_title parameter fails to properly sanitize user input, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject harmful scripts into the administrative interface. The vulnerability's presence in the WordPress plugin ecosystem demonstrates how third-party components can introduce significant security risks to otherwise secure web applications, particularly when input validation mechanisms are inadequately implemented.
The technical flaw constitutes a classic reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability where unvalidated user input flows directly into the application's output without proper sanitization or encoding. When administrators access the coming-soon_title parameter through the wp-admin/admin.php interface, the malicious payload becomes executed within the context of their browser session. This vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which classifies cross-site scripting as a critical weakness in web applications, specifically targeting the improper neutralization of input during web page generation. The attack vector leverages the plugin's administrative interface, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by authenticated users with sufficient privileges to access the WordPress admin area.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to potentially escalate privileges, steal session cookies, perform unauthorized administrative actions, or redirect users to malicious websites. Since the vulnerability exists within a WordPress administrative interface, successful exploitation could allow attackers to modify website content, install malicious plugins, or even gain full administrative control over the compromised WordPress installation. This represents a significant risk to website owners and administrators who may be unaware of the vulnerability's presence, particularly given that the plugin's default installation and configuration may not include additional security measures. The flaw's location within the admin.php endpoint means that any user with access to the WordPress admin area could potentially be targeted, making it a critical concern for site security.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-5659 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the XSS vulnerability, as developers typically release patches to resolve such security flaws. Organizations should implement input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent similar issues in custom applications, following the principle of least privilege and ensuring that administrative interfaces properly sanitize all user-provided data. Additionally, security monitoring should include regular scanning for vulnerable plugins and maintaining up-to-date security practices including the use of web application firewalls and security headers. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.001 highlights the importance of preventing code injection attacks through proper input sanitization and output encoding, as this represents a common exploitation pathway for attackers seeking to compromise web applications. Regular security audits and penetration testing can help identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins or custom code, ensuring comprehensive protection against cross-site scripting threats.