CVE-2025-23442 in Shockingly Big IE6 Warning Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/16/2025
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in matias s Shockingly Big IE6 Warning allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Shockingly Big IE6 Warning: from n/a through 1.6.3.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/10/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in the matias s Shockingly Big IE6 Warning plugin that combines cross-site request forgery with stored cross-site scripting capabilities. The vulnerability exists within a plugin designed to warn users about Internet Explorer 6 compatibility issues, making it particularly concerning as it targets users who may be operating outdated browsers. The flaw allows attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a victim's browser session, potentially leading to unauthorized actions and data theft. The affected versions range from the initial release through 1.6.3, indicating this weakness has persisted across multiple iterations of the plugin.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation and sanitization of user-supplied input within the plugin's handling of form submissions or configuration changes. When users interact with the plugin's administrative interface or submit data through its web forms, the system fails to properly verify the authenticity of requests originating from legitimate users. This CSRF component allows attackers to trick authenticated users into executing unintended actions without their knowledge or consent. The stored XSS aspect occurs because the plugin does not properly sanitize or escape user input before storing it in the database or configuration files, creating a persistent vector for malicious script execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges, steal session cookies, modify user settings, or even redirect users to malicious websites. Since the vulnerability affects a plugin that warns about IE6 compatibility issues, attackers could potentially exploit it to target users who are already operating vulnerable browsers, creating a particularly dangerous attack surface. The stored nature of the XSS means that once the malicious payload is injected, it will persist and execute every time the affected page is loaded, potentially affecting numerous users over extended periods. This vulnerability directly violates security principles outlined in CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities, and CWE-79, which covers Cross-Site Scripting flaws.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper CSRF token validation mechanisms that ensure all form submissions contain valid authentication tokens generated by the server. The plugin must enforce strict input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied data to prevent malicious scripts from being stored and executed. Security patches should include the implementation of Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, along with proper session management and authentication controls. Organizations using this plugin should immediately update to the latest version if available, or implement temporary workarounds such as disabling the vulnerable plugin functionality until proper patches are applied. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers phishing with malicious attachments or links, and T1059, which addresses command and scripting interpreters, as attackers could leverage the stored XSS to execute malicious code in victims' browsers and potentially escalate privileges through session hijacking attacks.