CVE-2019-15644 in zoho-salesiq Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The zoho-salesiq plugin before 1.0.9 for WordPress has stored XSS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-15644 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within the zoho-salesiq plugin for WordPress systems. This issue affects versions prior to 1.0.9 and allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into the plugin's storage mechanisms, which then execute when other users view affected content. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the plugin's data handling processes, creating an environment where malicious payloads can persist and propagate through the WordPress ecosystem. Stored XSS vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they remain active until manually removed from the database, potentially affecting numerous users over extended periods.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the plugin fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before storing it in the WordPress database. When administrators or users interact with the plugin's interface, the malicious scripts are stored in the database and subsequently executed in the browsers of other users who view pages containing this compromised data. This flaw operates at the intersection of web application security principles and WordPress plugin architecture, where third-party components often lack the same security rigor as core WordPress functionality. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the widespread use of WordPress as a content management system, making it a prime target for exploitation.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability creates significant risks for WordPress site administrators and their visitors. Attackers can leverage this flaw to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, deface websites, or execute arbitrary code within the context of the victim's browser. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that even users who are not actively interacting with the compromised plugin can be affected, as the malicious scripts execute automatically when pages are loaded. This makes the vulnerability particularly insidious and difficult to detect, as the malicious activity can occur without direct user interaction or obvious indicators of compromise.
The security implications extend beyond immediate exploitation to include potential privilege escalation and data exfiltration capabilities. Attackers can craft payloads that harvest sensitive information from authenticated sessions or manipulate the plugin's functionality to redirect traffic to phishing sites. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices that should be implemented in all web applications. Organizations using WordPress systems must consider this vulnerability as part of their broader security posture, particularly given the ATT&CK framework's categorization of such flaws under initial access and execution techniques that can lead to persistent threats within network environments. Mitigation efforts should focus on immediate plugin updates to version 1.0.9 or later, along with comprehensive security audits of all installed WordPress plugins to identify similar vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing proper input validation, output encoding, and regular security monitoring can help prevent similar issues from emerging in the future.