CVE-2014-2675 in WP HTML Sitemap Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in inc/AdminPage.php in the WP HTML Sitemap plugin 1.2 for WordPress allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that delete the sitemap via a request to the wp-html-sitemap page in wp-admin/options-general.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/14/2020
The CVE-2014-2675 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw in the WP HTML Sitemap plugin version 1.2 for WordPress systems. This vulnerability exists within the inc/AdminPage.php file and specifically targets the administrative functionality of the plugin, creating a significant security risk for WordPress installations that utilize this particular version. The flaw enables remote attackers to exploit the authentication mechanisms of administrators by crafting malicious requests that appear legitimate to the WordPress system.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the absence of proper anti-CSRF token validation within the administrative interface of the WP HTML Sitemap plugin. When administrators navigate to the wp-admin/options-general.php page to manage the sitemap configuration, the plugin fails to implement sufficient validation measures to verify that requests originate from legitimate administrative sessions. This allows attackers to construct specially crafted requests that, when executed by an authenticated administrator, can delete the sitemap configuration without the administrator's knowledge or consent.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data deletion, as it fundamentally undermines the security model of WordPress administrative interfaces. Attackers can leverage this flaw to perform unauthorized administrative actions, potentially leading to complete compromise of the website's sitemap functionality and associated content management capabilities. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the WordPress admin area where high-privilege operations are permitted, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to escalate their access within the web application.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery issues in web applications. The flaw demonstrates a classic CSRF attack pattern where the malicious actor exploits the trust relationship between the web application and the user's browser. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566.001 (Phishing) and T1078 (Valid Accounts) as attackers can leverage the administrative privileges of legitimate users to execute unauthorized operations. The vulnerability also relates to T1547.001 (Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder) in scenarios where attackers might use compromised administrative access to establish persistent access mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-2675 require immediate action including upgrading to a patched version of the WP HTML Sitemap plugin, as the vulnerability affects a specific version release. System administrators should implement additional security layers such as implementing Content Security Policy headers and ensuring proper session management practices. The WordPress core security team recommends maintaining updated plugin versions and utilizing security plugins that provide additional CSRF protection mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level protections and monitoring for suspicious administrative activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar flaws in other WordPress plugins and themes that may present analogous security risks.