Question 1

What version of MaxButtons has the vulnerability?

Accepted Answer

What version of MaxButtons has the vulnerability?

Versions of MaxButtons up to and including 9.7.6 contain this particular vulnerability enabling stored cross-site scripting attacks by privileged users. It was addressed by the developers in version 9.7.7, so updating to the latest release will apply the fix.

Question 2

Why does this vulnerability exist in the first place?

Accepted Answer

Why does this vulnerability exist in the first place?

The issue arises due to insufficient validation and escaping of attributes supplied via shortcodes in the plugin. User input was not property sanitized before output, enabling scripts to be injected. This is unfortunately a common oversight in plugin development, often due to lack of security experience.

Question 3

What level of access does an attacker need to exploit it?

Accepted Answer

What level of access does an attacker need to exploit it?

The vulnerability can be leveraged by any account at the Contributor level or above in WordPress. So while admin accounts offer the greatest control, compromised or malicious Contributor, Author, Editor, etc accounts also pose a threat.

Question 4

How serious is a CVSS score of 6.4?

Accepted Answer

How serious is a CVSS score of 6.4?

The CVSS score rates severity of software vulnerabilities on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most critical. A score of 6.4 is considered Medium severity, but should still be addressed promptly. It indicates an attacker could gain elevated privileges to resources within WordPress through compromise of integrity and confidentiality.

Question 5

What specifically can attackers do if they successfully exploit this?

Accepted Answer

What specifically can attackers do if they successfully exploit this?

If used effectively, the vulnerability provides opportunity for stored cross-site scripting attacks, session hijacking, redirection of site visitors, installation of backdoors, stealing visitor data, manipulating content, and gaining control over user accounts. The level of site compromise depends on attackers motivations and capabilities.

Question 6

Why enable auto updates for plugins whenever possible?

Accepted Answer

Why enable auto updates for plugins whenever possible?

Auto updates provide a convenient mechanism to apply security fixes in the background as soon as plugin developers roll out releases. This prevents sites falling behind and running outdated, vulnerable versions for extended periods. While autoupdates can sometimes fail, they greatly improve the odds sites will stay consistently updated.

Question 7

My site runs an older version of MaxButtons without issues. Why should I still update urgently?

Accepted Answer

My site runs an older version of MaxButtons without issues. Why should I still update urgently?

Lack of visible issues is not a reliable indicator of whether your site could be compromised in the future. Now that details are public, attackers can study how to leverage the vulnerability against older versions of the plugin. Just because your MaxButtons functionality seems fine does not mean your site is safe from attacks. Preventative updating is strongly advised.

Question 8

What could happen if I don't update MaxButtons?

Accepted Answer

What could happen if I don't update MaxButtons?

Leaving an outdated, vulnerable version of MaxButtons active opens up pathways for attackers to steal sensitive site data, manipulate content, redirect visitors for financial gain, completely deface site pages, and establish backdoors to carry out further attacks in the future. Lack of updating exponentially increases risk of business impacting compromise.

Question 9

Are other WordPress plugins likely vulnerable as well?

Accepted Answer

Are other WordPress plugins likely vulnerable as well?

Unfortunately, vulnerabilities both disclosed and undisclosed impact WordPress plugins quite frequently. Well known plugins in particular draw lots of attacker attention when security issues are found. Due to the modular plugin architecture of WordPress, keeping all plugins updated at all times is critical to preventing exploits.

Question 10

What if updating MaxButtons causes issues on my site?

Accepted Answer

What if updating MaxButtons causes issues on my site?

It's always wise to test plugin updates on a staging copy of your site prior to updating production. If the update did break any site functionality, you have a few options: 1) Seek support from the plugin developer 2) Rollback to your previous version 3) Consider alternative plugins with similar features. But weighed against the risks of an unpatched vulnerability, some troubleshooting is generally the wiser option over remaining on an insecure version.

Patch

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Additional Resources

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