CVE-2013-6992 in Firefox Adsense
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in askapache-firefox-adsense.php in the AskApache Firefox Adsense plugin 3.0 and earlier for WordPress allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that conduct cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks via the aafireadcode parameter to wp-admin/options-general.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/03/2024
The CVE-2013-6992 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the AskApache Firefox Adsense plugin for WordPress, specifically affecting versions 3.0 and earlier. This vulnerability exposes WordPress administrators to sophisticated attack vectors that can compromise their authenticated sessions and execute malicious code within the context of their privileged accounts. The flaw manifests through the aafireadcode parameter in the wp-admin/options-general.php endpoint, creating a pathway for remote attackers to exploit the trust relationship between the user's browser and the WordPress administration interface. The vulnerability's classification as a CSRF issue stems from its ability to trick authenticated users into performing unintended actions without their knowledge or consent, while the XSS component emerges from the malicious code execution capabilities that can be leveraged through the compromised authentication session.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability leverages the fundamental principle of CSRF attacks where an attacker crafts malicious requests that appear to originate from a legitimate authenticated user. In this specific case, the askapache-firefox-adsense.php plugin fails to implement proper anti-CSRF token validation mechanisms when processing requests to the wp-admin/options-general.php page. The aafireadcode parameter serves as the attack vector through which malicious payloads can be injected, exploiting the plugin's insufficient input validation and authentication verification processes. This weakness allows attackers to bypass WordPress's built-in security measures that typically protect against unauthorized modifications to administrative settings, particularly those related to adSense configurations and browser-specific advertising settings.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-6992 extends beyond simple session hijacking to encompass full administrative compromise of affected WordPress installations. When successful, attackers can execute arbitrary code within the context of the administrator's session, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and persistent backdoor installation. The vulnerability enables attackers to modify plugin configurations, inject malicious scripts into the admin interface, and potentially gain access to sensitive user data or other administrative functionalities. This risk is particularly severe because the attack targets the WordPress administration interface where critical system configurations reside, making it a prime target for attackers seeking long-term access to compromised systems. The vulnerability can result in unauthorized modifications to website content, user account manipulation, and the potential for further lateral movement within network environments where WordPress installations exist.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability require immediate plugin version updates to address the CSRF implementation flaws and the absence of proper authentication token validation. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management strategies ensuring all WordPress plugins remain current with security updates, particularly those handling administrative configurations. The implementation of additional security controls such as web application firewalls and strict input validation mechanisms can provide defense-in-depth protection against similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing role-based access controls and monitoring for unusual administrative activities that might indicate unauthorized access attempts. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities, and represents a significant concern under ATT&CK framework category T1547.001 for registry run keys and T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can leverage the compromised administrative sessions to establish persistence and execute malicious code within the target environment.