CVE-2025-0170 in DWT Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/16/2025
The DWT - Directory & Listing WordPress Theme is vulnerable to Reflected Cross-Site Scripting in versions up to, and including, 3.3.3 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping on the 'sort_by' and 'token' parameters. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that execute if they can successfully trick a user into performing an action such as clicking on a link.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/11/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-0170 affects the DWT - Directory & Listing WordPress Theme, specifically impacting versions up to and including 3.3.3. This represents a critical security flaw that exposes the theme to reflected cross-site scripting attacks, a common and dangerous class of web application vulnerability. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the theme's codebase, creating an attack surface that unauthenticated malicious actors can exploit without requiring any special privileges or credentials.
The technical flaw manifests through insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input on the 'sort_by' and 'token' parameters, which are commonly used in web applications for sorting data and managing session tokens respectively. When these parameters are processed without proper validation and escaping, they become vectors for injecting malicious JavaScript code into web pages. The reflected nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious script is reflected off the web server back to the victim's browser, typically through a crafted URL that contains the malicious payload. This attack requires social engineering to succeed, as attackers must convince victims to click on specially crafted links that contain the malicious code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking. An attacker could potentially execute arbitrary code within the context of a victim's browser, leading to full compromise of user sessions, data exfiltration, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability affects all users of the affected theme versions regardless of their authentication status, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users interact with the website. The reflected nature also means that the attack can be delivered through various channels including email phishing campaigns, compromised websites, or social media platforms where users might encounter malicious links.
Security practitioners should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest version of the DWT - Directory & Listing WordPress Theme where the vulnerability has been patched. The fix typically involves implementing proper input sanitization techniques that validate and escape all user-supplied data before it is processed or displayed. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security measures such as web application firewalls, content security policies, and regular security audits of their WordPress installations. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which defines the weakness of Cross-site Scripting in web applications, and follows ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering tactics including spearphishing with a link. The remediation process should include thorough testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce regressions in functionality while maintaining the security improvements.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the critical importance of proper input validation and output escaping in web application development. WordPress themes and plugins must implement robust security measures to prevent such vulnerabilities from being exploited in the wild. Regular security assessments and staying current with security patches are essential practices that organizations should maintain to protect against similar threats. The vulnerability also demonstrates how seemingly minor security oversights in third-party components can create significant risks for entire web applications, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security hygiene practices across all software components.