The WP Hello Bar plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the 'digit_one' and 'digit_two' parameters in all versions up to, and including, 1.02 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This vulnerability allows authenticated attackers, with administrator-level access and above, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page. The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 4.4, which categorizes it as medium severity.
Risk to organizations includes potential unauthorized access to sensitive information, as attackers may leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious scripts within the application context. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to mitigate this risk and protect their users.
As of now, there is no known exploit available, and public proof of concept (PoC) for this vulnerability has not been confirmed. However, due to the nature of the vulnerability, organizations should remain vigilant.
Organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle to ensure that their WordPress installations remain secure against potential attacks.
Vulnerability Details
The WP Hello Bar plugin is affected by a Stored Cross-Site Scripting vulnerability as described in the official CVE entry. The CVSS score of 4.4 indicates a medium severity level, and the attack vector is classified as network-based. The vulnerability is associated with CWE-79, which pertains to improper neutralization of input during web page generation.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the insufficient input sanitization and output escaping of the 'digit_one' and 'digit_two' parameters. Attackers with high privileges can exploit this vulnerability to execute scripts in the context of the affected application. The attack vector is network-based, requiring no user interaction, but it necessitates high privileges.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The risk associated with this vulnerability is significant, as it allows for the injection of malicious scripts that could compromise user data and application integrity. The potential blast radius includes all users accessing the affected pages, which could lead to severe reputational and operational impacts for organizations utilizing the WP Hello Bar plugin.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The vulnerability affects all versions of the WP Hello Bar plugin up to and including version 1.02. Organizations using this plugin should take immediate action to update to the latest patched version.
Mitigation & Remediation
Detection Guidance
Monitoring for unusual behavior within the WP Hello Bar plugin, especially on pages that utilize the affected parameters, can help detect possible exploitation attempts. Log files should be reviewed for unexpected script executions or changes in user access patterns.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The emergence of Stored Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities highlights the ongoing challenges in input validation and output sanitization within web applications. As organizations increasingly rely on third-party plugins, ensuring their security through regular updates and thorough testing becomes crucial. For further insights on secure coding practices, organizations can explore our secure coding practices and vulnerability management program design resources.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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