CVE-2019-6029 in Custom Body Class
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting vulnerability in Custom Body Class 0.6.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2024
The CVE-2019-6029 vulnerability represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the Custom Body Class WordPress plugin version 0.6.0 and earlier. This vulnerability falls under the category of web application security weaknesses that can be exploited by remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of a victim's browser. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the plugin's codebase, creating an opportunity for attackers to inject malicious content through unspecified vectors that typically involve user-supplied data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic XSS attack pattern where malicious scripts can be injected into web pages viewed by other users. The flaw likely occurs when the plugin processes user input without proper sanitization before rendering it in HTML output contexts. This allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that execute in the browser context of legitimate users who visit affected pages. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning as it affects the core functionality of WordPress plugins that modify page structure and styling through custom body classes. Attackers can leverage this weakness to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious websites. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability could be triggered through multiple entry points within the plugin's functionality, potentially including admin interfaces, frontend forms, or configuration settings where user input is accepted.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to WordPress websites utilizing the affected plugin version. The attack surface is broad as the vulnerability affects the plugin's core functionality of adding custom body classes to HTML documents. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to compromise user sessions, deface websites, or redirect traffic to malicious domains. The impact extends beyond individual site compromise as compromised sites can become part of botnets or be used for further reconnaissance activities. Organizations relying on WordPress for content management are particularly vulnerable since the plugin's functionality is commonly used for theme customization and responsive design implementation. The vulnerability's remote nature means attackers do not require physical access to systems or network privileges to exploit it, making it a particularly dangerous threat vector. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability corresponds to CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this under T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, where attackers might leverage the XSS vulnerability to execute malicious scripts that can establish persistence or escalate privileges within the compromised environment.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate upgrading of the Custom Body Class plugin to version 0.6.1 or later, which contains the necessary security patches to address the XSS vulnerability. Administrators should also implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout their WordPress installations to prevent similar issues from occurring in other components. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate potential XSS vulnerabilities in custom code and third-party plugins. Additionally, implementing content security policies and using security headers can provide additional layers of protection against XSS attacks. Organizations should also consider deploying web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of keeping all WordPress plugins and themes updated to the latest versions, as outdated components often contain known security flaws that attackers actively exploit in the wild.