Vulnerabilities > CVE-2017-14721 - Cross-site Scripting vulnerability in Wordpress
Attack vector
NETWORK Attack complexity
LOW Privileges required
NONE Confidentiality impact
LOW Integrity impact
LOW Availability impact
NONE Summary
Before version 4.8.2, WordPress allowed Cross-Site scripting in the plugin editor via a crafted plugin name.
Vulnerable Configurations
Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE)
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)
- Cross Site Scripting through Log Files An attacker may leverage a system weakness where logs are susceptible to log injection to insert scripts into the system's logs. If these logs are later viewed by an administrator through a thin administrative interface and the log data is not properly HTML encoded before being written to the page, the attackers' scripts stored in the log will be executed in the administrative interface with potentially serious consequences. This attack pattern is really a combination of two other attack patterns: log injection and stored cross site scripting.
- Embedding Scripts in Non-Script Elements This attack is a form of Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) where malicious scripts are embedded in elements that are not expected to host scripts such as image tags (<img>), comments in XML documents (< !-CDATA->), etc. These tags may not be subject to the same input validation, output validation, and other content filtering and checking routines, so this can create an opportunity for an attacker to tunnel through the application's elements and launch a XSS attack through other elements. As with all remote attacks, it is important to differentiate the ability to launch an attack (such as probing an internal network for unpatched servers) and the ability of the remote attacker to collect and interpret the output of said attack.
- Embedding Scripts within Scripts An attack of this type exploits a programs' vulnerabilities that are brought on by allowing remote hosts to execute scripts. The attacker leverages this capability to execute scripts to execute his/her own script by embedding it within other scripts that the target software is likely to execute. The attacker must have the ability to inject script into script that is likely to be executed. If this is done, then the attacker can potentially launch a variety of probes and attacks against the web server's local environment, in many cases the so-called DMZ, back end resources the web server can communicate with, and other hosts. With the proliferation of intermediaries, such as Web App Firewalls, network devices, and even printers having JVMs and Web servers, there are many locales where an attacker can inject malicious scripts. Since this attack pattern defines scripts within scripts, there are likely privileges to execute said attack on the host. Of course, these attacks are not solely limited to the server side, client side scripts like Ajax and client side JavaScript can contain malicious scripts as well. In general all that is required is for there to be sufficient privileges to execute a script, but not protected against writing.
- Cross-Site Scripting in Error Pages An attacker distributes a link (or possibly some other query structure) with a request to a third party web server that is malformed and also contains a block of exploit code in order to have the exploit become live code in the resulting error page. When the third party web server receives the crafted request and notes the error it then creates an error message that echoes the malformed message, including the exploit. Doing this converts the exploit portion of the message into to valid language elements that are executed by the viewing browser. When a victim executes the query provided by the attacker the infected error message error message is returned including the exploit code which then runs in the victim's browser. XSS can result in execution of code as well as data leakage (e.g. session cookies can be sent to the attacker). This type of attack is especially dangerous since the exploit appears to come from the third party web server, who the victim may trust and hence be more vulnerable to deception.
- Cross-Site Scripting Using Alternate Syntax The attacker uses alternate forms of keywords or commands that result in the same action as the primary form but which may not be caught by filters. For example, many keywords are processed in a case insensitive manner. If the site's web filtering algorithm does not convert all tags into a consistent case before the comparison with forbidden keywords it is possible to bypass filters (e.g., incomplete black lists) by using an alternate case structure. For example, the "script" tag using the alternate forms of "Script" or "ScRiPt" may bypass filters where "script" is the only form tested. Other variants using different syntax representations are also possible as well as using pollution meta-characters or entities that are eventually ignored by the rendering engine. The attack can result in the execution of otherwise prohibited functionality.
Nessus
NASL family CGI abuses NASL id WORDPRESS_4_8_2.NASL description According to its self-reported version number, the WordPress application running on the remote web server is prior to 4.8.2. It is, therefore, affected by multiple vulnerabilities : - A flaw in $wpdb->prepare() can create unsafe queries leading to potential SQL injection flaws with plugins and themes. - Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities exists due to improper sanitization of user-supplied input. An unauthenticated, remote attacker can exploit this, via a specially crafted request, to execute arbitrary script code in a user last seen 2020-06-01 modified 2020-06-02 plugin id 103358 published 2017-09-20 reporter This script is Copyright (C) 2017-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof. source https://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/103358 title WordPress < 4.8.2 Multiple Vulnerabilities code # # (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc. # include("compat.inc"); if (description) { script_id(103358); script_version("1.9"); script_cvs_date("Date: 2019/03/29 9:51:59"); script_cve_id( "CVE-2017-14718", "CVE-2017-14719", "CVE-2017-14720", "CVE-2017-14721", "CVE-2017-14722", "CVE-2017-14723", "CVE-2017-14724", "CVE-2017-14725", "CVE-2017-14726" ); script_bugtraq_id(100912); script_name(english:"WordPress < 4.8.2 Multiple Vulnerabilities"); script_summary(english:"Checks the version of WordPress."); script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value: "A PHP application running on the remote web server is affected by multiple vulnerabilities."); script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value: "According to its self-reported version number, the WordPress application running on the remote web server is prior to 4.8.2. It is, therefore, affected by multiple vulnerabilities : - A flaw in $wpdb->prepare() can create unsafe queries leading to potential SQL injection flaws with plugins and themes. - Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities exists due to improper sanitization of user-supplied input. An unauthenticated, remote attacker can exploit this, via a specially crafted request, to execute arbitrary script code in a user's browser session. - Multiple path traversal vulnerabilities exist in the file unzipping code and customizer. A remote attacker may be able to read arbitrary files subject to the privileges under which the web server runs. - An open redirect flaw exists on the user and term edit screens. A remote attacker can exploit this, by tricking a user into following a specially crafted link, to redirect a user to an arbitrary website. Note that Nessus has not tested for these issues but has instead relied only on the application's self-reported version number."); # https://wordpress.org/news/2017/09/wordpress-4-8-2-security-and-maintenance-release/ script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"http://www.nessus.org/u?dadf2914"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://codex.wordpress.org/Version_4.8.2"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value: "Upgrade to WordPress version 4.8.2 or later."); script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P"); script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:U/RL:OF/RC:C"); script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"); script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:U/RL:O/RC:C"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2017-14723"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"No exploit is required"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"false"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2017/09/19"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2017/09/19"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2017/09/20"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"remote"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/a:wordpress:wordpress"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"potential_vulnerability", value:"true"); script_end_attributes(); script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO); script_family(english:"CGI abuses"); script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2017-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof."); script_dependencies("wordpress_detect.nasl"); script_require_keys("www/PHP", "installed_sw/WordPress", "Settings/ParanoidReport"); script_require_ports("Services/www", 80, 443); exit(0); } include("vcf.inc"); include("http.inc"); if (report_paranoia < 2) audit(AUDIT_PARANOID); app = "WordPress"; port = get_http_port(default:80, php:TRUE); app_info = vcf::get_app_info(app:app, port:port, webapp:TRUE); vcf::check_granularity(app_info:app_info, sig_segments:2); constraints = [ { "fixed_version":"3.7.22", "fixed_display" : "3.7.22 / 4.8.2" }, { "min_version":"3.8", "fixed_version":"3.8.22", "fixed_display" : "3.8.22 / 4.8.2" }, { "min_version":"3.9", "fixed_version":"3.9.20", "fixed_display" : "3.9.20 / 4.8.2" }, { "min_version":"4.0", "fixed_version":"4.0.19", "fixed_display" : "4.0.19 / 4.8.2" }, { "min_version":"4.1", "fixed_version":"4.1.19", "fixed_display" : "4.1.19 / 4.8.2" }, { "min_version":"4.2", "fixed_version":"4.2.16", "fixed_display" : "4.2.16 / 4.8.2" }, { "min_version":"4.3", "fixed_version":"4.3.12", "fixed_display" : "4.3.12 / 4.8.2" }, { "min_version":"4.4", "fixed_version":"4.4.11", "fixed_display" : "4.4.11 / 4.8.2" }, { "min_version":"4.5", "fixed_version":"4.5.10", "fixed_display" : "4.5.10 / 4.8.2" }, { "min_version":"4.6", "fixed_version":"4.6.7", "fixed_display" : "4.6.7 / 4.8.2" }, { "min_version":"4.7", "fixed_version":"4.7.6", "fixed_display" : "4.7.6 / 4.8.2" }, { "min_version":"4.8", "fixed_version":"4.8.2", "fixed_display" : "4.8.2" } ]; vcf::check_version_and_report( app_info:app_info, constraints:constraints, severity:SECURITY_HOLE, flags:{xss:TRUE, sqli:TRUE} );
NASL family Debian Local Security Checks NASL id DEBIAN_DSA-3997.NASL description Several vulnerabilities were discovered in Wordpress, a web blogging tool. They would allow remote attackers to exploit path-traversal issues, perform SQL injections and various cross-site scripting attacks. last seen 2020-06-01 modified 2020-06-02 plugin id 103793 published 2017-10-12 reporter This script is Copyright (C) 2017-2018 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof. source https://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/103793 title Debian DSA-3997-1 : wordpress - security update code # # (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc. # # The descriptive text and package checks in this plugin were # extracted from Debian Security Advisory DSA-3997. The text # itself is copyright (C) Software in the Public Interest, Inc. # include("compat.inc"); if (description) { script_id(103793); script_version("3.3"); script_cvs_date("Date: 2018/11/10 11:49:38"); script_cve_id("CVE-2017-14718", "CVE-2017-14719", "CVE-2017-14720", "CVE-2017-14721", "CVE-2017-14722", "CVE-2017-14723", "CVE-2017-14724", "CVE-2017-14725", "CVE-2017-14726", "CVE-2017-14990"); script_xref(name:"DSA", value:"3997"); script_name(english:"Debian DSA-3997-1 : wordpress - security update"); script_summary(english:"Checks dpkg output for the updated package"); script_set_attribute( attribute:"synopsis", value:"The remote Debian host is missing a security-related update." ); script_set_attribute( attribute:"description", value: "Several vulnerabilities were discovered in Wordpress, a web blogging tool. They would allow remote attackers to exploit path-traversal issues, perform SQL injections and various cross-site scripting attacks." ); script_set_attribute( attribute:"see_also", value:"https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=876274" ); script_set_attribute( attribute:"see_also", value:"https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=877629" ); script_set_attribute( attribute:"see_also", value:"https://packages.debian.org/source/jessie/wordpress" ); script_set_attribute( attribute:"see_also", value:"https://packages.debian.org/source/stretch/wordpress" ); script_set_attribute( attribute:"see_also", value:"https://www.debian.org/security/2017/dsa-3997" ); script_set_attribute( attribute:"solution", value: "Upgrade the wordpress packages. For the oldstable distribution (jessie), these problems have been fixed in version 4.1+dfsg-1+deb8u15. For the stable distribution (stretch), these problems have been fixed in version 4.7.5+dfsg-2+deb9u1." ); script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P"); script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:debian:debian_linux:wordpress"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:8.0"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:9.0"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2017/10/10"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2017/10/12"); script_end_attributes(); script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO); script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2017-2018 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof."); script_family(english:"Debian Local Security Checks"); script_dependencies("ssh_get_info.nasl"); script_require_keys("Host/local_checks_enabled", "Host/Debian/release", "Host/Debian/dpkg-l"); exit(0); } include("audit.inc"); include("debian_package.inc"); if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED); if (!get_kb_item("Host/Debian/release")) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Debian"); if (!get_kb_item("Host/Debian/dpkg-l")) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING); flag = 0; if (deb_check(release:"8.0", prefix:"wordpress", reference:"4.1+dfsg-1+deb8u15")) flag++; if (deb_check(release:"8.0", prefix:"wordpress-l10n", reference:"4.1+dfsg-1+deb8u15")) flag++; if (deb_check(release:"8.0", prefix:"wordpress-theme-twentyfifteen", reference:"4.1+dfsg-1+deb8u15")) flag++; if (deb_check(release:"8.0", prefix:"wordpress-theme-twentyfourteen", reference:"4.1+dfsg-1+deb8u15")) flag++; if (deb_check(release:"8.0", prefix:"wordpress-theme-twentythirteen", reference:"4.1+dfsg-1+deb8u15")) flag++; if (deb_check(release:"9.0", prefix:"wordpress", reference:"4.7.5+dfsg-2+deb9u1")) flag++; if (deb_check(release:"9.0", prefix:"wordpress-l10n", reference:"4.7.5+dfsg-2+deb9u1")) flag++; if (deb_check(release:"9.0", prefix:"wordpress-theme-twentyfifteen", reference:"4.7.5+dfsg-2+deb9u1")) flag++; if (deb_check(release:"9.0", prefix:"wordpress-theme-twentyseventeen", reference:"4.7.5+dfsg-2+deb9u1")) flag++; if (deb_check(release:"9.0", prefix:"wordpress-theme-twentysixteen", reference:"4.7.5+dfsg-2+deb9u1")) flag++; if (flag) { if (report_verbosity > 0) security_hole(port:0, extra:deb_report_get()); else security_hole(0); exit(0); } else audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, "affected");
NASL family FreeBSD Local Security Checks NASL id FREEBSD_PKG_A48D4478E23F40858AE46B3A7B6F016B.NASL description wordpress developers report : Before version 4.8.2, WordPress was susceptible to a Cross-Site Scripting attack in the link modal via a javascript: or data: URL. Before version 4.8.2, WordPress allowed a Cross-Site scripting attack in the template list view via a crafted template name. Before version 4.8.2, WordPress was vulnerable to a directory traversal attack during unzip operations in the ZipArchive and PclZip components. Before version 4.8.2, WordPress allowed Cross-Site scripting in the plugin editor via a crafted plugin name. Before version 4.8.2, WordPress allowed a Directory Traversal attack in the Customizer component via a crafted theme filename. Before version 4.8.2, WordPress was vulnerable to cross-site scripting in oEmbed discovery. Before version 4.8.2, WordPress was vulnerable to a cross-site scripting attack via shortcodes in the TinyMCE visual editor. last seen 2020-06-01 modified 2020-06-02 plugin id 103585 published 2017-10-02 reporter This script is Copyright (C) 2017-2018 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof. source https://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/103585 title FreeBSD : wordpress -- multiple issues (a48d4478-e23f-4085-8ae4-6b3a7b6f016b) code # # (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc. # # The descriptive text and package checks in this plugin were # extracted from the FreeBSD VuXML database : # # Copyright 2003-2018 Jacques Vidrine and contributors # # Redistribution and use in source (VuXML) and 'compiled' forms (SGML, # HTML, PDF, PostScript, RTF and so forth) with or without modification, # are permitted provided that the following conditions are met: # 1. Redistributions of source code (VuXML) must retain the above # copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following # disclaimer as the first lines of this file unmodified. # 2. Redistributions in compiled form (transformed to other DTDs, # published online in any format, converted to PDF, PostScript, # RTF and other formats) must reproduce the above copyright # notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer # in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the # distribution. # # THIS DOCUMENTATION IS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" # AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, # THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR # PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR OR CONTRIBUTORS # BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, # OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT # OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR # BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, # WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE # OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS DOCUMENTATION, # EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE. # include("compat.inc"); if (description) { script_id(103585); script_version("3.4"); script_cvs_date("Date: 2018/11/23 12:49:57"); script_cve_id("CVE-2017-14718", "CVE-2017-14719", "CVE-2017-14720", "CVE-2017-14721", "CVE-2017-14722", "CVE-2017-14724", "CVE-2017-14726"); script_name(english:"FreeBSD : wordpress -- multiple issues (a48d4478-e23f-4085-8ae4-6b3a7b6f016b)"); script_summary(english:"Checks for updated package in pkg_info output"); script_set_attribute( attribute:"synopsis", value:"The remote FreeBSD host is missing a security-related update." ); script_set_attribute( attribute:"description", value: "wordpress developers report : Before version 4.8.2, WordPress was susceptible to a Cross-Site Scripting attack in the link modal via a javascript: or data: URL. Before version 4.8.2, WordPress allowed a Cross-Site scripting attack in the template list view via a crafted template name. Before version 4.8.2, WordPress was vulnerable to a directory traversal attack during unzip operations in the ZipArchive and PclZip components. Before version 4.8.2, WordPress allowed Cross-Site scripting in the plugin editor via a crafted plugin name. Before version 4.8.2, WordPress allowed a Directory Traversal attack in the Customizer component via a crafted theme filename. Before version 4.8.2, WordPress was vulnerable to cross-site scripting in oEmbed discovery. Before version 4.8.2, WordPress was vulnerable to a cross-site scripting attack via shortcodes in the TinyMCE visual editor." ); # http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/100912 script_set_attribute( attribute:"see_also", value:"https://www.securityfocus.com/bid/100912" ); # https://wordpress.org/news/2017/09/wordpress-4-8-2-security-and-maintenance-release/ script_set_attribute( attribute:"see_also", value:"http://www.nessus.org/u?dadf2914" ); script_set_attribute( attribute:"see_also", value:"https://core.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/41393" ); script_set_attribute( attribute:"see_also", value:"https://core.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/41395" ); script_set_attribute( attribute:"see_also", value:"https://core.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/41397" ); script_set_attribute( attribute:"see_also", value:"https://core.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/41412" ); script_set_attribute( attribute:"see_also", value:"https://core.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/41448" ); script_set_attribute( attribute:"see_also", value:"https://core.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/41457" ); script_set_attribute( attribute:"see_also", value:"https://wpvulndb.com/vulnerabilities/8911" ); script_set_attribute( attribute:"see_also", value:"https://wpvulndb.com/vulnerabilities/8912" ); script_set_attribute( attribute:"see_also", value:"https://wpvulndb.com/vulnerabilities/8913" ); script_set_attribute( attribute:"see_also", value:"https://wpvulndb.com/vulnerabilities/8914" ); # https://vuxml.freebsd.org/freebsd/a48d4478-e23f-4085-8ae4-6b3a7b6f016b.html script_set_attribute( attribute:"see_also", value:"http://www.nessus.org/u?34df0e68" ); script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:"Update the affected package."); script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N"); script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:freebsd:freebsd:wordpress"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:freebsd:freebsd"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2017/09/23"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2017/09/29"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2017/10/02"); script_end_attributes(); script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO); script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2017-2018 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof."); script_family(english:"FreeBSD Local Security Checks"); script_dependencies("ssh_get_info.nasl"); script_require_keys("Host/local_checks_enabled", "Host/FreeBSD/release", "Host/FreeBSD/pkg_info"); exit(0); } include("audit.inc"); include("freebsd_package.inc"); if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED); if (!get_kb_item("Host/FreeBSD/release")) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "FreeBSD"); if (!get_kb_item("Host/FreeBSD/pkg_info")) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING); flag = 0; if (pkg_test(save_report:TRUE, pkg:"wordpress<4.8.2")) flag++; if (flag) { if (report_verbosity > 0) security_warning(port:0, extra:pkg_report_get()); else security_warning(0); exit(0); } else audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, "affected");