Several new WordPress plugin and theme vulnerabilities were disclosed during the first half of November, so we want to keep you aware. In this post, we cover recent WordPress plugin and theme vulnerabilities and what to do if you are running one of the vulnerable plugins or themes on your website.
We divide the WordPress Vulnerability Roundup into four different categories:
- 1. WordPress core
- 2. WordPress plugins
- 3. WordPress themes
- 4. Breaches from around the web
*We include breaches from around the web because it is essential to also be aware of vulnerabilities outside of the WordPress ecosystem. Exploits to server software can expose sensitive data. Database breaches can expose the credentials for the users on your site, opening the door for attackers to access your site.
WordPress Core Security Update
WordPress 5.3 did drop this week, so be sure to update your sites as soon as possible. Here’s a quick look at the top 20 new features and improvements in WordPress 5.3.
WordPress Plugin Vulnerabilities
Several new WordPress plugin vulnerabilities have been discovered this October. Make sure to follow the suggested action below to update the plugin or completely uninstall it.
1. Safe SVG
Safe SVG version 1.9.5 and below is vulnerable to a Cross-Site Scripting Bypass attack. The vulnerability allows an attacker to bypass the protection added by Safe SVG.
What You Should Do
2. Currency Switcher for WooCommerce
Currency Switcher for WooCommerce version 2.11.1 has a Security Restrictions Bypass vulnerability that would allow an attacker to enable a currency not currently enabled in the settings.
What You Should Do
3. Tidio Live Chat
Tidio Live Chat version 4.1 and below is vulnerable to a Cross-Site Request Forgery leading to a Cross-Site Scripting attack. The vulnerability would allow an attacker to trick admins into adding a malicious payload that would be presented to all visitors.
What You Should Do
4. IgniteUp – Coming Soon and Maintenance Mode
IgniteUp – Coming Soon and Maintenance Mode version 3.4 and below has multiple vulnerabilities.
- Arbitrary File Deletion
- HTML injection & CSRF in email messages
- Stored Cross-Site Scripting
- Disclosure of subscribers’ email address
- Arbitrary subscriber deletion
- Arbitrary plugin’s template switch
What You Should Do
5. Blog2Social: Social Media Auto Post & Scheduler
Blog2Social: Social Media Auto Post & Scheduler version 5.8.1 has a Cross-Site Scripting vulnerability. The vulnerability would allow an attacker to execute arbitrary HTML and JavaScript code that could be executed via a malicious link.
What You Should Do
6. WP Google Review Slider
WP Google Review Slider version 6.1 is vulnerable to an Authenticated SQL Injection attack.
What You Should Do
7. YITH Plugin Framework (39 Individual Plugins)
The YITH suite of WooCommerce plugins is vulnerable to an Authenticated Settings Change attack. This chart summarizes all 39 vulnerable YITH plugins:
Summary of YITH Plugin Vulnerabilities
version 2.2.14.
version 2.3.15.
1.3.15.
1.3.12.
1.7.1.
1.3.21.
version 1.3.7.
version 1.4.9.
version 1.3.6.
version 1.2.11.
version 1.2.13.
version 1.2.1.
version 1.2.1.
version 1.5.23.
version 1.3.8.
to version 1.3.6.
to version 1.6.3.
it to version 1.4.5.
update it to version 1.1.17.
update it to version 1.2.14.
update it to version 1.7.5.
update it to version 1.8.13.
should update it to version 1.1.8.
should update it to version 1.1.13.
should update it to version 1.3.13.
you should update it to version 1.2.15.
you should update it to version 2.0.2.
and you should update it to version
1.3.11.
and you should update it to version
1.3.6.
patched, and you should update it
to version 1.3.6.
patched, and you should update
it to version 1.0.12.
patched, and you should update
it to version 1.1.13.
patched, and you should
update it to version 1.1.13.
patched, and you should
update it to version
2.1.4.
been patched, and you
should update it to
version 3.4.1.
been patched, and you
should update it to
version 1.2.0.
has been patched,
and you should
update it to version
1.2.0.
has been patched,
and you should
update it to
version 1.2.6.
vulnerability
has been
patched, and you
should update it
to version
1.2.8.
WordPress Themes
1. Zoner – Real Estate Theme
Zoner Real Estate Theme version 4.1.1 and below a Persistent Cross-Site Scripting and Insecure Direct Object Reference vulnerabilities.
What You Should Do
How to Be Proactive About WordPress Theme & Plugin Vulnerabilities
Running outdated software is the number one reason WordPress sites are hacked. It is crucial to the security of your WordPress site that you have an update routine. You should be logging into your sites at least once a week to perform updates.
Automatic Updates Can Help
Automatic updates are a great choice for WordPress websites that don’t change very often. Lack of attention often leaves these sites neglected and vulnerable to attacks. Even with recommended security settings, running vulnerable software on your site can give an attacker an entry point into your site.
Using the iThemes Security Pro plugin’s Version Management feature, you can enable automatic WordPress updates to ensure you are getting the latest security patches. These settings help protect your site with options to automatically update to new versions or to increase user security when the site’s software is outdated.
Version Management Update Options
- WordPress Updates –Automatically install the latest WordPress release.
- Plugin Automatic Updates – Automatically install the latest plugin updates. This should be enabled unless you actively maintain this site on a daily basis and install the updates manually shortly after they are released.
- Theme Automatic Updates – Automatically install the latest theme updates. This should be enabled unless your theme has file customizations.
- Granular Control over Plugin and Theme updates – You may have plugins/themes that you’d like to either manually update, or delay the update until the release has had time to prove stable. You can choose Custom for the opportunity to assign each plugin or theme to either update immediately (Enable), not update automatically at all (Disable) or update with a delay of a specified amount of days (Delay).
Strengthening and Alerting to Critical Issues
- Strengthen Site When Running Outdated Software – Automatically add extra protections to the site when an available update has not been installed for a month. The iThemes Security plugin will automatically enable stricter security when an update has not been installed for a month. First, it will force all users that do not have two-factor enabled to provide a login code sent to their email address before logging back in. Second, it will disable the WP File Editor (to block people from editing plugin or theme code), XML-RPC pingbacks, and block multiple authentication attempts per XML-RPC request (both of which will make XML-RPC stronger against attacks without having to turn it off completely).
- Scan for Other Old WordPress Sites – This will checks for other outdated WordPress installs on your hosting account. A single outdated WordPress site with a vulnerability could allow attackers to compromise all the other sites on the same hosting account.
- Send Email Notifications – For issues that require intervention, an email is sent to admin-level users.
Breaches From Around the Web
1. WordPress Users Infect Own Sites With Pirated Plugins & Themes
According to WordFence, there has been an uptick in the WP-VCD malvertising campaign. This particular malware is quite nasty as it is very difficult to remove from an infected site completely, and it can spread to other WordPress sites on the server. The most frustrating part for site owners that have been affected by the WP-VCD malware is that they infected their own site. Site owners who have installed free and pirated versions of paid plugins and themes, got a little more than they bargained for. The pirated software included malicious code that created a back door with a welcome mat for the WP-VCD virus.
On day 1 of the iThemes WordPress Disaster Week, we covered how to prevent a security disaster. One of the significant things that we covered was limiting PHP exploit opportunities by only installing software from trusted sources. Having a site infected with malware is always made worse when you know that it could have and should have been prevented.
Summary of WordPress Vulnerabilities for
November 2019, Part 1
Safe SVG version 1.9.5 and below is vulnerable to a Cross-Site Scripting Bypass attack.
Currency Switcher for WooCommerce version 2.11.1 and below is vulnerable to a Security Restriction Bypass attack.
Tidio Live Chat version 4.1 and below is vulnerable to a Cross-Site Request Forgery leading to a Cross-Site Scripting attack.
IgniteUp – Coming Soon and Maintenance Mode version 3.4 and below has multipleVulnerabilities.
Blog2Social: Social Media Auto Post & Scheduler version 5.8.1 and below is vulnerable to a Cross-Site Scripting attack.
WP Google Review Slider version 6.1 and below is vulnerable to an Authenticated SQL Injectionattack.
YITH Plugin Framework The YITH suite of WooCommerce plugins is vulnerable to an Authenticated Settings Change attack.
A WordPress Security Plugin Can Help Secure Your Website
iThemes Security Pro, our WordPress security plugin, offers 30+ ways to secure and protect your website from common WordPress security vulnerabilities. With WordPress two-factor authentication, brute force protection, strong password enforcement, and more, you can add an extra layer of security to your website.
I have a lot of upgrading to do since I use almost all the YITH plugins listed. What does that say about that company?
Hi Jeff,
This was about as minor of vulnerability as you can have as it required an authenticated user to exploit.
The YITH team patched the vulnerability as soon as it was brought to their attention.
You should feel good that they took the report seriously and were able to patch that many plugins so quickly.
Thanks!
Michael
Thanks for the heads up post.