CVE-2019-15869 in JobCareer Theme
Summary
by MITRE
The JobCareer theme before 2.5.1 for WordPress has stored XSS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/11/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2019-15869 represents a stored cross-site scripting flaw in the JobCareer WordPress theme version 2.5.0 and earlier. This issue arises from inadequate input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the theme's codebase, specifically affecting how user-submitted data is processed and rendered on web pages. The vulnerability exists in the theme's admin interface where users can input content that gets stored in the database and subsequently displayed to other users without proper sanitization. This creates a persistent security risk where malicious actors can inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions within the WordPress environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the theme's failure to properly sanitize user inputs before storing them in the database. When administrators or users submit content through the theme's forms, the data bypasses adequate validation checks and gets stored directly in the WordPress database. During subsequent page rendering, this stored data is outputted without proper HTML escaping or context-appropriate encoding, allowing malicious JavaScript code to execute when other users view the affected pages. This stored XSS vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited by attackers who gain access to the WordPress admin panel or by targeting users who view compromised content. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as improper neutralization of input during web output, and it maps to ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for credential access through web application vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-15869 extends beyond simple data corruption or display issues, as it provides attackers with persistent access to user sessions and potentially administrative privileges within the WordPress installation. An attacker could inject malicious scripts that redirect users to phishing sites, steal authentication cookies, or execute unauthorized administrative commands. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payload remains active until manually removed from the database, making it particularly dangerous for long-term exploitation. This vulnerability affects all users who view pages containing the stored malicious content, potentially compromising hundreds or thousands of users depending on the site's traffic and user base. The attack vector requires minimal privileges to exploit, as the vulnerability exists in the theme's handling of user-submitted content rather than requiring direct code execution or administrative access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-15869 focus primarily on immediate theme updates to version 2.5.1 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the input validation and output escaping deficiencies. Organizations should implement comprehensive content filtering and sanitization policies, ensuring all user inputs are properly validated and escaped before storage or display. Regular security audits and penetration testing of WordPress installations can help identify similar vulnerabilities in other themes or plugins. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and content security policies can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of keeping WordPress themes and plugins updated, as the patch for this issue was released promptly after discovery and addresses the core sanitization flaws in the theme's codebase.