Advanced XML Reader <= 0.3.4 - External Entity Injection
Strategic Overview
- Status
- Unpatched
- Affected Plugin
- Advanced XML Reader
- Affected Version
<= 0.3.4- CVSS
- 9.1Critical
- Weakness type
- CWE-611 · Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference
- CVE
CVE pending
At a glance
This record tracks a critical-severity Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference vulnerability in the Advanced XML Reader WordPress plugin, affecting versions <= 0.3.4. It carries a CVSS score of 9.1 (reachable over the network; low attack complexity; high confidentiality, availability impact). Exploitation requires no authentication. No fixed release has been reported yet; treat installations running this software as exposed. Disclosed May 2013, reported by Elites0ft.com.
Vulnerability Overview
The Advanced XML Reader plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to XML External Entity Injection (XXE) in versions up to, and including, 0.3.4 via an unspecified parameter. This can allow unauthenticated attackers to extract sensitive data or achieve code execution in vulnerable configurations.
Technical Analysis
The vector marks this flaw as remotely reachable over the network, with low attack complexity — no special timing or configuration is needed, and no privileges on the target site, and no interaction from a victim user. A successful exploit has high impact on confidentiality, availability.
CWE-611: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference
The product processes an XML document that can contain XML entities with URIs that resolve to documents outside of the intended sphere of control, causing the product to embed incorrect documents into its output.
Remediation
No known patch available. Please review the vulnerability's details in depth and employ mitigations based on your organization's risk tolerance. It may be best to uninstall the affected software and find a replacement.
How does WordSec protect against this?
The attempt arrives as an ordinary request to Advanced XML Reader: WordSec's web application firewall inspects request payloads before WordPress loads them. No patched version is recorded yet, which is the case where a filtering layer matters most, because there is nothing to update to.
- Firewall
- Alerts
External References
Related records
Same weakness class
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