The Log HTTP Requests plugin for WordPress has been identified with a critical vulnerability in versions up to and including 1.3.1. This Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability has been tracked as CVE-2022-3402 (Common Vulnerability and Exposures) and can potentially compromise site security if exploited. To understand the magnitude of the issue, it is important to know what exactly Stored XSS vulnerability is and how attackers can exploit it.
What is Stored XSS?
Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) is a type of vulnerability that allows an attacker to inject malicious scripts into a website, which are then stored and executed when other users access the site. The malicious scripts can steal user session data, redirect users to phishing sites, perform unauthorized actions, and deface web content.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability in the Log HTTP Requests plugin for WordPress results from insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. As such, unauthenticated attackers who can trick a site's administrator into performing an action like clicking on a link or an authenticated user who has access to a page that sends a request using user-supplied data via the server could potentially inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page.
An attacker could exploit the vulnerability by crafting a URL with the malicious code
https://vulnerable-site.com/wp-admin/admin.php?page=loghttprequestsplugin-options&paged=1&s=%3Cscript%3Ealert(%27XSS%27)%3C/script%3E
Here, the '%3Cscript%3Ealert(%27XSS%27)%3C/script%3E' is a URL-encoded representation of the script tag and an alert with the text 'XSS'. When the administrator clicks on the crafted link, the alert will pop up, demonstrating the vulnerability.
To safeguard your site against this vulnerability, it is recommended to take the following steps
1. Update your Log HTTP Requests plugin to the latest version (1.3.3 at the time of writing) as soon as possible. You can download the update from the following link: https://wordpress.org/plugins/log-http-requests/
2. Always keep your WordPress installation and other plugins up to date to prevent similar security issues.
Consider implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to mitigate the risk of XSS attacks.
5. Educate your site administrators on security best practices, including not clicking on suspicious links and not using default login credentials.
Conclusion
The CVE-2022-3402 vulnerability in the Log HTTP Requests plugin for WordPress poses a serious threat to the website's security, making it imperative to take the necessary steps for mitigating the risk associated with this vulnerability. Keep your website safe by following the recommendations provided and monitor the latest security advisories related to your plugins and themes.
Original References
1. Log HTTP Requests Plugin - https://wordpress.org/plugins/log-http-requests/
2. Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) - https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2022-3402
3. Content Security Policy (CSP) - https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/CSP
Timeline
Published on: 10/28/2022 19:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 11/03/2022 14:23:00 UTC