WordPress AffiliateWP 2.0.8 Cross Site Scripting

DefenseCode ThunderScan SAST Advisory
WordPress AffiliateWP Plugin
Security Vulnerability


Advisory ID: DC-2017-05-0
DefenseCode ThunderScan SAST Advisory
WordPress AffiliateWP Plugin
Security Vulnerability


Advisory ID: DC-2017-05-05
Advisory Title: WordPress AffiliateWP Plugin Security Vulnerability
Advisory URL: http://www.defensecode.com/advisories.php
Software: WordPress AffiliateWP Plugin
Language: PHP
Version: 2.0.8 and below (taken from the official GitHub repo)
Vendor Status: Vendor contacted, update released
Release Date: 2017/05/24
Risk: Medium



1. General Overview
===================
During the security audit of AffiliateWP plugin for WordPress CMS,
security vulnerability was discovered using DefenseCode ThunderScan
application source code security analysis platform.

More information about ThunderScan is available at URL:
http://www.defensecode.com


2. Software Overview
====================
According to the plugin developers, AffiliateWP is an easy-to-use,
reliable WordPress plugin that gives you the affiliate marketing tools
you need to grow your business and make more money. In 2016 it
surpassed $500,000 in annual revenue:
https://pippinsplugins.com/2016-in-review/

Homepage:
https://affiliatewp.com
https://github.com/AffiliateWP/AffiliateWP


3. Vulnerability Description
==================================
During the security analysis, ThunderScan discovered Cross-Site
Scripting vulnerability in AffiliateWP WordPress plugin.

The Cross-Site Scripting vulnerability can enable the attacker to
construct the URL that contains malicious JavaScript code. If the
administrator of the site makes a request to such an URL, the
attacker's code will be executed, with unrestricted access to the
WordPress site in question. The attacker can entice the administrator
to visit the URL in various ways, including sending the URL by email,
posting it as a part of the comment on the vulnerable site or another
forum.

3.1 Cross-Site Scripting
Vulnerable Function: echo
Vulnerable Variable: $_REQUEST['filter_from']
Vulnerable URL:
http://vulnerablesite.com//wp-admin/admin.php?page=affiliate-wp-referrals&filter_from=%27%3C%2Fscript%3E%3Cscript%3Ealert%2842%29%3C%2Fscript%3E
File:
AffiliateWP-masterincludesadmin eferralsclass-list-table.php
---------
571 $from = ! empty( $_REQUEST['filter_from'] ) ?
$_REQUEST['filter_from'] : '';
...
574 echo "<input type='text' class='affwp-datepicker'
autocomplete='off' name='filter_from' placeholder='" . __( 'From -
mm/dd/yyyy', 'affiliate-wp' ) . "' value='" . $from . "'/>";
---------


4. Solution
===========
Vendor resolved the security issues after we reported the
vulnerability. All users are strongly advised to update WordPress
AffiliateWP plugin to the latest available version.


5. Credits
==========
Discovered with DefenseCode ThunderScan Source Code Security Analyzer
by Neven Biruski.


6. Disclosure Timeline
======================
2017/05/16 Vendor contacted
2017/05/16 Vendor responded
2017/05/17 Update released
2017/05/24 Advisory released to the public


7. About DefenseCode
====================
DefenseCode L.L.C. delivers products and services designed to analyze
and test web, desktop and mobile applications for security
vulnerabilities.

DefenseCode ThunderScan is a SAST (Static Application Security
Testing, WhiteBox Testing) solution for performing extensive security
audits of application source code. ThunderScan SAST performs fast and
accurate analyses of large and complex source code projects delivering
precise results and low false positive rate.

DefenseCode WebScanner is a DAST (Dynamic Application Security
Testing, BlackBox Testing) solution for comprehensive security audits
of active web applications. WebScanner will test a website's security
by carrying out a large number of attacks using the most advanced
techniques, just as a real attacker would.

Subscribe for free software trial on our website
http://www.defensecode.com/ .

E-mail: defensecode[at]defensecode.com

Website: http://www.defensecode.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DefenseCode/