📄 الوصف (الإنجليزية)
The Click to Chat – WA Widget plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the [chat] shortcode 'num' parameter in all versions up to, and including, 4.38. This is due to insufficient escaping when embedding user-supplied shortcode attribute values inside JavaScript string literals that are then placed in HTML event-handler attributes. The CCW_Shortcode::shortcode() function applies esc_attr() to the 'num' parameter (line 157), which converts single quotes to the HTML entity '. This entity-encoded value is then interpolated directly into a JavaScript window.open() call string delimited by single quotes (line 194/221), and that complete string is placed verbatim into an HTML onclick attribute in the style template files (e.g., sc-style-1.php line 6). Because browsers HTML-decode event attribute values before executing the embedded JavaScript, the ' entities are decoded back to literal single quotes at runtime, allowing the injected payload to break out of the JavaScript string context and execute arbitrary code. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers with Contributor-level access and above to inject arbitrary web scripts into pages that will execute whenever a user clicks the WhatsApp chat button rendered by the [chat] shortcode.
🤖 ملخص AI
The Click to Chat – WA Widget WordPress plugin (versions ≤4.38) contains a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the [chat] shortcode's 'num' parameter. Authenticated attackers with Contributor-level access can inject malicious JavaScript that executes when users interact with the WhatsApp chat button. The vulnerability exploits improper escaping of user input within JavaScript string literals placed in HTML event handlers, allowing attackers to break out of the intended context and execute arbitrary code.
📄 الوصف (العربية)
🤖 التحليل الذكي آخر تحليل: Jun 6, 2026 08:12
🇸🇦 التأثير على المملكة العربية السعودية
Saudi organizations using WordPress with the Click to Chat plugin are at risk, particularly: (1) Government agencies and ministries using WordPress for public-facing websites and citizen services; (2) Banking and financial institutions using WordPress for customer communication portals; (3) E-commerce and retail businesses relying on WhatsApp integration for customer support; (4) Healthcare providers using WordPress for patient communication; (5) Telecommunications companies (STC, Mobily, Zain) using the plugin for customer engagement. The vulnerability requires authenticated access, limiting exposure to internal threats and compromised user accounts. However, stored XSS can affect all website visitors, potentially compromising customer data and enabling credential theft.
🏢 القطاعات السعودية المتأثرة
Government & Public Administration
Banking & Financial Services
E-commerce & Retail
Healthcare
Telecommunications
Education
Hospitality & Tourism
Real Estate
🎯 تقنيات MITRE ATT&CK
⚖️ درجة المخاطر السعودية (AI)
6.8
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Audit all WordPress installations using Click to Chat – WA Widget plugin and identify affected versions (≤4.38)
2. Review user access logs to identify Contributor-level and above accounts that may have injected malicious payloads
3. Scan published posts/pages containing [chat] shortcodes for suspicious JavaScript in the 'num' parameter
4. Disable the plugin immediately if no patch is available and alternative WhatsApp integration solutions are available
PATCHING GUIDANCE:
1. Monitor the plugin's GitHub repository and WordPress.org plugin page for security updates
2. Once a patched version is released, update immediately to the latest version
3. Test updates in a staging environment before production deployment
COMPENSATING CONTROLS (if patching is delayed):
1. Restrict Contributor-level access to only trusted users; audit and remove unnecessary accounts
2. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block XSS payloads in shortcode parameters
3. Use Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict inline script execution: Content-Security-Policy: script-src 'self'
4. Enable WordPress security plugins (Wordfence, Sucuri) to monitor for malicious shortcode usage
5. Implement input validation at the application level to reject suspicious 'num' parameter values
6. Regularly audit and sanitize all [chat] shortcode instances in the database
DETECTION RULES:
1. Monitor WordPress database for [chat] shortcodes with 'num' parameters containing: quotes, semicolons, parentheses, or JavaScript keywords (onclick, onerror, alert, etc.)
2. Log and alert on any modifications to posts/pages containing [chat] shortcodes by Contributor-level users
3. Monitor browser console errors and XSS-related security warnings in website logs
4. Implement SIEM rules to detect unusual JavaScript execution patterns originating from WhatsApp chat button interactions
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تدقيق جميع تثبيتات WordPress التي تستخدم مكون Click to Chat – WA Widget وتحديد الإصدارات المتأثرة (≤4.38)
2. مراجعة سجلات الوصول للمستخدمين لتحديد حسابات مستوى المساهم وما فوقه التي قد تكون قد حقنت حمولات ضارة
3. مسح المنشورات/الصفحات المنشورة التي تحتوي على اختصارات [chat] بحثاً عن JavaScript مريب في معامل 'num'
4. تعطيل المكون فوراً إذا لم يكن هناك تصحيح متاح وكانت هناك حلول بديلة لتكامل WhatsApp
إرشادات التصحيح:
1. مراقبة مستودع GitHub للمكون وصفحة المكون على WordPress.org للتحديثات الأمنية
2. بمجرد إصدار نسخة مصححة، قم بالتحديث فوراً إلى أحدث إصدار
3. اختبر التحديثات في بيئة التجريب قبل نشرها في الإنتاج
الضوابط التعويضية (إذا تأخر التصحيح):
1. قيد الوصول على مستوى المساهم للمستخدمين الموثوقين فقط؛ تدقيق وإزالة الحسابات غير الضرورية
2. تنفيذ قواعد جدار حماية تطبيقات الويب (WAF) للكشف عن حمولات XSS وحجبها في معاملات الاختصار
3. استخدم رؤوس سياسة أمان المحتوى (CSP) لتقييد تنفيذ البرامج النصية المضمنة: Content-Security-Policy: script-src 'self'
4. تفعيل مكونات أمان WordPress (Wordfence, Sucuri) لمراقبة استخدام الاختصارات الضارة
5. تنفيذ التحقق من الإدخال على مستوى التطبيق لرفض قيم معامل 'num' المريبة
6. تدقيق وتنظيف جميع مثيلات اختصار [chat] في قاعدة البيانات بانتظام
قواعد الكشف:
1. مراقبة قاعدة بيانات WordPress للاختصارات [chat] مع معاملات 'num' تحتوي على: علامات اقتباس أو فواصل منقوطة أو أقواس أو كلمات رئيسية JavaScript (onclick, onerror, alert, إلخ)
2. تسجيل والتنبيه على أي تعديلات على المنشورات/الصفحات التي تحتوي على اختصارات [chat] من قبل مستخدمي مستوى المساهم
3. مراقبة أخطاء وحدة تحكم المتصفح والتحذيرات الأمنية المتعلقة بـ XSS في سجلات الموقع
4. تنفيذ قواعد SIEM للكشف عن أنماط تنفيذ JavaScript غير العادية الناشئة من تفاعلات زر دردشة WhatsApp
📋 خريطة الامتثال التنظيمي
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
A.5.1.1 - Information security policies and procedures
A.6.1.1 - Access control and user management
A.7.1.1 - Cryptography and secure communications
A.8.1.1 - Asset management and inventory
A.9.1.1 - Access control implementation
A.10.1.1 - Cryptography implementation
A.12.1.1 - Operations security and change management
A.14.1.1 - Vulnerability management and patching
🔵 SAMA CSF
Governance & Risk Management - Security governance and risk assessment
Information & Cyber Security - Application security and secure development
Information & Cyber Security - Vulnerability management
Operational Resilience - Change management and patch management
Operational Resilience - Incident detection and response
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
5.1 - Policies for information security
6.1.1 - Information security roles and responsibilities
6.2 - Information security planning and implementation
8.1 - Operational planning and control
8.2 - Supply chain relationships
8.3 - Information and communication
8.6 - Management of technical vulnerabilities
A.5.1.1 - Policies for information security
A.6.1.1 - Information security roles and responsibilities
A.8.1.3 - Segregation of duties
A.8.2.1 - User endpoint devices
A.8.3.1 - Password management
A.12.6.1 - Management of technical vulnerabilities
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0.1
6.2 - Ensure all system components and software are protected from known vulnerabilities
6.5.1 - Injection flaws prevention
6.5.7 - Cross-site scripting (XSS) prevention
11.2 - Vulnerability scanning and assessment
🔗 المراجع والمصادر 11
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