CVE-2018-6465 in PropertyHive Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The PropertyHive plugin before 1.4.15 for WordPress has XSS via the body parameter to includes/admin/views/html-preview-applicant-matches-email.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2023
The PropertyHive plugin for WordPress represents a significant security vulnerability through its improper handling of user input within email template rendering functionality. This vulnerability manifests as a cross-site scripting flaw that affects versions prior to 1.4.15, creating a dangerous attack surface for malicious actors seeking to exploit the system. The specific weakness occurs within the html-preview-applicant-matches-email.php file where the body parameter is not adequately sanitized or escaped before being rendered in the web page context. This allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the browser of unsuspecting users who view the affected email preview functionality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to apply proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. When administrators or users access the email preview feature, the system directly incorporates user-supplied data from the body parameter into the HTML output without appropriate sanitization. This violates fundamental security principles and creates a persistent threat vector that aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. The flaw represents a classic case of inadequate data sanitization where untrusted input flows directly into executable code contexts within the web application's user interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, creating potential for more sophisticated attacks within the WordPress ecosystem. An attacker could leverage this XSS flaw to steal administrator sessions, modify email content to deceive users, or redirect them to malicious sites that could harvest credentials or install additional malware. The vulnerability particularly affects users with administrative privileges who might be browsing the email preview functionality, making it a critical concern for WordPress site owners. This weakness could enable unauthorized access to sensitive property data and potentially lead to data breaches that compromise both client information and business operations.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the PropertyHive plugin to version 1.4.15 or later, which implements proper input sanitization and output encoding for all user-supplied parameters. System administrators should also implement additional protective measures such as content security policies that restrict script execution within the WordPress admin interface and regular security audits of installed plugins. The remediation process should include thorough input validation that ensures all user data is properly escaped before being rendered in HTML contexts, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1211 which addresses privilege escalation through web application vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns that could exploit similar vulnerabilities in other parts of their WordPress installations.