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The ShopBuilder WordPress plugin before 3.2.2 does not sanitise and escape a parameter before outputting it back in the page, leading to a Reflected Cross-Site Scripting which could be used against high privilege users such as admin.
ShopBuilder WordPress plugin versions prior to 3.2.2 are vulnerable to a Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attack. This vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code into web pages viewed by privileged users, potentially leading to account compromise and complete control of the affected WordPress site.
Step 1: Crafting the Malicious URL: The attacker constructs a URL containing a malicious JavaScript payload within a specific parameter that the ShopBuilder plugin uses.
Step 2: Victim Interaction: The attacker lures a privileged user (e.g., an administrator) to click on the crafted URL, typically through phishing or social engineering techniques.
Step 3: Server-Side Processing: The victim's browser sends the crafted URL to the WordPress server hosting the ShopBuilder plugin.
Step 4: Vulnerable Code Execution: The ShopBuilder plugin processes the URL, retrieves the malicious parameter value, and includes it directly in the HTML response without proper sanitization or escaping.
Step 5: Browser Execution: The victim's browser receives the HTML response containing the attacker's JavaScript payload and executes it.
Step 6: Payload Execution: The injected JavaScript code executes within the context of the victim's browser, potentially allowing the attacker to steal cookies, redirect the user, deface the website, or gain administrative access.
The vulnerability stems from a failure to properly sanitize and escape user-supplied input before rendering it within the HTML response. Specifically, a parameter within the ShopBuilder plugin is directly incorporated into the page's output without adequate validation. This allows an attacker to inject arbitrary JavaScript code, which is then executed by the victim's browser. The root cause is a missing or inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanism within the plugin's code, likely in a function responsible for handling user input or displaying data.
This vulnerability could be exploited by a wide range of threat actors, from opportunistic attackers to more sophisticated groups seeking to compromise WordPress sites. The impact on a compromised site is significant. No specific APTs are known at this time, but the nature of the vulnerability makes it attractive to various actors. CISA KEV status: Likely to be added quickly due to the ease of exploitation and potential impact.
Monitor web server logs for suspicious HTTP requests containing JavaScript payloads in ShopBuilder plugin parameters.
Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to detect and block XSS attempts based on signature matching and behavior analysis.
Analyze network traffic for unusual JavaScript execution patterns originating from the WordPress site.
Monitor for changes in WordPress user accounts, especially the creation of new administrator accounts or modifications to existing ones.
Use a security scanner to identify the vulnerability.
Update the ShopBuilder WordPress plugin to version 3.2.2 or later.
Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to filter malicious input and prevent XSS attacks.
Sanitize all user-supplied input before displaying it on the website. This includes escaping special characters in HTML context.
Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) to restrict the sources from which the browser can load resources, mitigating the impact of XSS attacks.
Regularly scan the WordPress site for vulnerabilities using security scanners.
Review and audit the plugin's code to identify and fix any other potential vulnerabilities.