WordPress 404 to 301 Log Manager Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Scanner

The WordPress 404 to 301 Log Manager plugin is commonly used by WordPress website administrators for monitoring 404 errors and redirecting them to valid URLs, thereby improving user experience and SEO rankings. It is highly utilized in websites looking to manage broken links effectively and maintain a seamless browsing experience for their users. The tool is favored for its ability to automatically handle missing pages without extensive manual intervention. It is typically integrated with WordPress setups aiming to bolster their error handling mechanisms. Businesses and personal blog sites alike benefit from the automation in handling 404 errors that this plugin provides. Often downloaded from the WordPress repository, it aids in maintaining content accessibility and presents a convenient logging system for webmasters.

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities like the one detected in this plugin allow attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. This type of vulnerability typically allows for the execution of scripts in the context of another user's session, leading to a range of issues like session hijacking. The vulnerability in the WordPress 404 to 301 Log Manager arises from insufficient escaping of certain URLs. Such unescaped URLs are then outputted back in web page HTML attributes, exposing them to exploitation through reflected XSS. This issue is paramount for maintaining secure data exchange and protecting user sessions and information. Addressing such vulnerabilities is critical to prevent unwanted script execution and data compromise on websites using this plugin.

Technically, this XSS vulnerability manifests when certain URL parameters are not properly sanitized before being reflected into web page content. The vulnerable endpoint is part of the 'admin.php' page, which interacts with user-input URLs. The failure to escape these URLs allows for arbitrary script tags to be injected and executed. This flaw occurs in the 404 Log output section, where user-controlled data influences the displayed HTML attributes. Attackers can exploit this to run scripts that could potentially access cookies, session tokens, or other sensitive information of users browsing the affected website. It is crucial for the plugin to implement strict input validation and output encoding to prevent such issues.

The exploitation of this vulnerability allows attackers to execute unauthorized scripts in the browser of users visiting the affected WordPress site. This could lead to session hijacking, allowing attackers to impersonate legitimate users or administrators. It potentially facilitates the distribution of malicious payloads to other users by altering the webpage content. Such vulnerabilities pose a risk of unauthorized data access, theft, and manipulation. If not mitigated, they can compromise website integrity and user trust, leading to negative repercussion for the site owner, including data breaches, financial loss, and legal liabilities.

REFERENCES

• https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/4a310b4f-79fa-4b74-93f8-e4522921abe1
• https://wordpress.org/plugins/404-to-301