CVE-2023-50371 in Page Visit Counter Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/14/2023
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Page Visit Counter Advanced Page Visit Counter – Most Wanted Analytics Plugin for WordPress advanced-page-visit-counter allows Cross-Site Scripting (XSS).This issue affects Advanced Page Visit Counter – Most Wanted Analytics Plugin for WordPress: from n/a through 8.0.6.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2024
This cross-site scripting vulnerability exists within the Advanced Page Visit Counter plugin for WordPress, specifically impacting versions through 8.0.6. The flaw represents a classic improper neutralization of input during web page generation, where user-supplied data is not adequately sanitized before being rendered in web pages. The vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of victims. The issue stems from the plugin's failure to properly escape or filter input parameters that are subsequently displayed in web page content, creating an opening for malicious actors to exploit.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the plugin's handling of user input within its analytics reporting features. When visitors interact with the plugin's tracking mechanisms or when administrators view visit statistics, the plugin fails to properly sanitize data that may contain malicious script payloads. This misconfiguration allows attackers to craft specially formatted input that, when processed by the plugin, gets executed as JavaScript in the browser of unsuspecting users. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-site Scripting flaws in web applications, where the system fails to neutralize or properly escape user-controllable data before it is used in web page generation. The attack vector typically involves injecting script code through parameters that are processed by the plugin's analytics functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains that compromise user sessions and steal sensitive information. An attacker could inject malicious scripts that steal authentication cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or manipulate the plugin's functionality to hide malicious activities. The vulnerability affects not only the plugin's core functionality but also potentially the entire WordPress installation if attackers can leverage it to gain additional privileges. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which involves the use of malicious scripts to gain access to systems and data, and T1588 which covers the development of malware or other attack tools. The impact is particularly concerning in WordPress environments where plugins often have elevated privileges and can affect multiple users simultaneously.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of the vulnerable plugin to version 8.0.7 or later, which contains the necessary input sanitization fixes. Administrators should also implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding practices across all plugin components, ensuring that user-supplied data is properly escaped before being rendered in web pages. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth, though they should not replace proper code-level fixes. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in plugin usage that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security audits of WordPress plugins and themes are essential to identify similar vulnerabilities, and administrators should maintain updated security baselines that include proper content security policy headers to limit the impact of potential XSS attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output encoding practices that are fundamental to preventing cross-site scripting attacks in web applications.