CVE-2014-1750 in Nokia Maps
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in nokia-mapsplaces.php in the Nokia Maps & Places plugin 1.6.6 for WordPress allows remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via a URL in the href parameter to page/place.html. NOTE: this was originally reported as cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability, but this may be inaccurate.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/22/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-1750 represents a critical open redirect flaw within the Nokia Maps & Places plugin version 1.6.6 for WordPress platforms. This security weakness resides in the nokia-mapsplaces.php script and specifically affects the handling of URL parameters within the page/place.html endpoint. The vulnerability enables malicious actors to manipulate the href parameter, creating a dangerous redirection mechanism that can be exploited to mislead users into visiting malicious websites. The initial classification as a cross-site scripting vulnerability was later corrected, confirming the true nature of this open redirect vulnerability that operates through URL manipulation rather than script injection techniques.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs when the plugin fails to properly validate or sanitize URL inputs received through the href parameter. When users navigate to a page that utilizes the Nokia Maps & Places plugin, the application processes the href parameter without adequate input filtering, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary URLs that will be executed as redirects. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-601, which specifically addresses open redirect vulnerabilities where web applications redirect users to untrusted websites without proper validation. The flaw essentially creates a trust relationship that can be exploited by attackers to establish phishing campaigns or direct users to malicious content that appears to originate from legitimate sources within the WordPress ecosystem.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple redirection attacks, as it provides attackers with a sophisticated vector for conducting social engineering campaigns. When users encounter links that appear to be legitimate WordPress plugin functionality, they may unknowingly be redirected to phishing sites designed to capture credentials or personal information. The vulnerability affects any WordPress installation using the affected plugin version, creating a wide attack surface across numerous websites that may not be actively monitored for such issues. Attackers can craft deceptive URLs that appear to be legitimate navigation elements within the WordPress interface, making the attack vector particularly effective for phishing operations. This vulnerability demonstrates how third-party plugins can introduce significant security risks to WordPress installations, as the open redirect mechanism can be leveraged to bypass traditional security controls that might otherwise prevent malicious redirection attempts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-1750 should focus on immediate plugin updates to versions that address the open redirect vulnerability, as well as implementing proper input validation mechanisms. Organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious URL redirection patterns, particularly those involving external domains that do not match the legitimate WordPress installation. The remediation process requires updating to a patched version of the Nokia Maps & Places plugin, which should include proper URL validation and sanitization routines. Security teams should also implement monitoring for unusual redirection patterns within their WordPress environments and consider implementing CSP (Content Security Policy) headers to prevent unauthorized redirects. Additionally, regular security audits of WordPress plugins should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities, as this flaw represents a common pattern in plugin development where proper input validation is overlooked in favor of rapid functionality implementation. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of validating all user-supplied input and implementing robust security controls at every layer of web application architecture.