CVE-2019-19134 in Hero Maps Premium Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The Hero Maps Premium plugin 2.2.1 and prior for WordPress is prone to unauthenticated XSS via the views/dashboard/index.php p parameter because it fails to sufficiently sanitize user-supplied input. An attacker may leverage this issue to inject HTML or arbitrary JavaScript within the browser of an unsuspecting user in the context of the affected site. This may allow the attacker to steal cookie-based tokens or to launch other attacks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/11/2025
The Hero Maps Premium plugin for WordPress represents a significant security vulnerability through its failure to properly sanitize user input in the views/dashboard/index.php file. This particular flaw affects versions 2.2.1 and earlier, creating an unauthenticated cross-site scripting vulnerability that can be exploited by malicious actors without requiring any authentication credentials. The vulnerability specifically targets the p parameter within the dashboard index view, where user-supplied input is not adequately validated or escaped before being rendered in the browser context.
This XSS vulnerability operates through the manipulation of the p parameter which serves as an entry point for malicious code injection. When an attacker crafts a specially formatted URL containing malicious JavaScript within the p parameter and persuades an unsuspecting user to visit the malicious link, the injected code executes within the victim's browser session. The security implications extend beyond simple script execution since the malicious code operates within the context of the affected WordPress site, potentially allowing attackers to access sensitive session cookies, manipulate the user interface, or redirect users to malicious domains. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic weakness in input validation and output escaping mechanisms that has been classified under CWE-79 as Cross-Site Scripting.
The operational impact of this vulnerability creates multiple attack vectors for threat actors seeking to compromise WordPress installations. An attacker can leverage this weakness to execute persistent XSS attacks against authenticated users, potentially harvesting session tokens or performing actions on behalf of users with elevated privileges. The unauthenticated nature of the exploit means that any user visiting the compromised site can become a victim, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently click on external links or where the site is publicly accessible. This weakness can facilitate credential theft, session hijacking, and other sophisticated attack patterns that align with techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under the T1059.001 sub-technique for Command and Scripting Interpreter.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate attention from WordPress administrators and security teams. The most effective immediate solution involves updating to the latest version of the Hero Maps Premium plugin where the XSS vulnerability has been patched through proper input sanitization and output escaping. Additionally, administrators should implement content security policies to limit the execution of inline scripts and consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious payloads targeting this specific parameter. Regular security auditing of WordPress plugins and themes remains essential, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation practices. Organizations should also consider implementing automated monitoring solutions that can detect unusual parameter usage patterns and alert security teams to potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the necessity of following secure coding practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and emphasizes the critical importance of keeping all WordPress components updated to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.