CVE-2019-9978 : Security Advisory and Response

In March 2019, a vulnerability was discovered in the Social Warfare plugin for WordPress, affecting versions prior to 3.5.3. This vulnerability allowed for stored XSS attacks, which were actively exploited in real-world scenarios. Both the Social Warfare and Social Warfare Pro versions are impacted by this issue.

Understanding CVE-2019-9978

This CVE pertains to a stored XSS vulnerability in the Social Warfare plugin for WordPress.

What is CVE-2019-9978?

The CVE-2019-9978 vulnerability involves stored XSS via the 'swp_url' parameter in the 'wp-admin/admin-post.php?swp_debug=load_options' URL.

The Impact of CVE-2019-9978

The vulnerability was actively exploited in the wild, posing a significant risk to websites using the affected versions of the Social Warfare plugin.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-9978

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The Social Warfare plugin before version 3.5.3 for WordPress is susceptible to stored XSS attacks, as demonstrated in March 2019.

Affected Systems and Versions

Social Warfare plugin versions prior to 3.5.3
Both Social Warfare and Social Warfare Pro versions

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability allows attackers to execute malicious scripts by manipulating the 'swp_url' parameter in specific URLs.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-9978 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the Social Warfare plugin to version 3.5.3 or newer.
Consider temporarily disabling the plugin if an immediate update is not feasible.
Monitor website activity for any signs of unauthorized access or malicious behavior.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update all plugins and themes to their latest versions.
Implement web application firewalls to prevent XSS attacks.
Educate website administrators about security best practices.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates promptly to address known vulnerabilities and enhance overall security measures.