CVE-2014-100001 in SEO Plugin LiveOptim
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the SEO Plugin LiveOptim plugin before 1.1.4-free for WordPress allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that change plugin settings via unspecified vectors. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2018
The cross-site request forgery vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-100001 affects the LiveOptim SEO plugin for WordPress, specifically versions prior to 1.1.4-free. This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to exploit the authentication mechanisms of administrators within the WordPress ecosystem. The issue stems from the plugin's insufficient validation of cross-site requests, creating an avenue for malicious actors to manipulate administrative functions without proper authorization. The vulnerability specifically targets requests that modify plugin settings, potentially allowing attackers to alter core configuration parameters that could impact website security, performance, and search engine optimization. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description indicate that the attack could occur through various methods including crafted links, embedded images, or malicious content delivery that triggers administrative actions when an authenticated administrator visits a compromised page.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the plugin's security architecture to properly validate the origin and intent of incoming requests. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in software applications. Attackers can leverage this flaw by crafting malicious web pages or embedding deceptive content that, when visited by an authenticated administrator, automatically submits requests to the vulnerable WordPress plugin. The attack typically involves sending a request that appears to originate from the legitimate user's browser session, bypassing standard authentication mechanisms. This type of vulnerability operates at the application layer and represents a fundamental breakdown in the principle of least privilege, where the system fails to verify that requests are genuinely initiated by authorized users. The impact is particularly severe because it targets administrative functions, potentially allowing full control over plugin configurations and associated website settings.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability extend beyond simple configuration changes, as administrators may unknowingly execute commands that compromise website integrity and security posture. An attacker could modify SEO settings to redirect traffic to malicious domains, inject malicious code into website content, or disable security features that protect against other attacks. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that remains active as long as the affected plugin version is installed, potentially allowing attackers to establish long-term access to compromised WordPress installations. This type of vulnerability frequently appears in the ATT&CK framework under the technique of privilege escalation and persistence, where initial access through a CSRF attack can be leveraged to maintain control over the affected system. The impact on website owners is substantial, as unauthorized changes to SEO plugin settings could result in decreased search engine rankings, potential malware infections, or complete compromise of website functionality.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must prioritize immediate plugin updates to version 1.1.4-free or later, which contain the necessary security patches to prevent CSRF attacks. Organizations should implement comprehensive security monitoring to detect unauthorized configuration changes and establish regular vulnerability assessment procedures to identify similar weaknesses in other installed plugins. The implementation of additional security measures such as CSRF tokens, proper request validation, and session management controls can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to further protect against cross-site request forgery attacks. Regular security audits of WordPress installations, including plugin and theme reviews, are essential for maintaining a secure environment and preventing similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of keeping all software components updated and maintaining robust security practices throughout the entire application stack.