CVE-2018-7433 in iThemes Security Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The iThemes Security plugin before 6.9.1 for WordPress does not properly perform data escaping for the logs page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2020
The iThemes Security plugin vulnerability CVE-2018-7433 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting WordPress installations with versions prior to 6.9.1. This vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's logs page functionality where insufficient data escaping mechanisms fail to properly sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it in the web interface. The flaw exists within the plugin's handling of log data that may contain malicious scripts or HTML content, creating an avenue for attackers to inject harmful payloads into the administrative interface.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically representing a reflected XSS attack vector where malicious code can be executed in the context of an authenticated administrator's browser session. The issue stems from improper output encoding practices within the plugin's logging subsystem, where log entries containing unescaped special characters or script tags are directly rendered without adequate sanitization. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious log entries or manipulating existing log data to include script payloads that execute when administrators view the logs page.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows attackers to escalate privileges and gain full administrative control over WordPress sites. When an administrator accesses the affected logs page, their browser executes the injected malicious scripts, potentially leading to session hijacking, data exfiltration, or complete site compromise. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the administrative interface where sensitive operations occur, making it a prime target for attackers seeking persistent access to WordPress installations. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation and output encoding practices that violate fundamental web security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and related security frameworks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-7433 require immediate patching of the iThemes Security plugin to version 6.9.1 or later, which implements proper data escaping mechanisms for log page rendering. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including regular security audits of WordPress plugins, monitoring for suspicious log entries, and implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious script injection attempts. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of all WordPress installations to identify similar issues in other plugins and themes, as this vulnerability pattern indicates broader security weaknesses in the WordPress ecosystem. The remediation process should include validating that all user-supplied data is properly escaped before rendering in web interfaces and implementing proper content security policies to prevent script execution in administrative contexts.