CVE-2014-3844 in Color Picker
Summary
by MITRE
The TinyMCE Color Picker plugin before 1.2 for WordPress does not properly check permissions, which allows remote attackers to modify 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 • 05/30/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3844 affects the TinyMCE Color Picker plugin version 1.1 and earlier for WordPress platforms, representing a critical permission bypass flaw that undermines the security posture of affected systems. This issue stems from inadequate access control mechanisms within the plugin's implementation, creating a pathway for unauthorized modification of core plugin configurations. The vulnerability exists in the plugin's handling of user authentication and authorization checks, where proper validation of user privileges is not enforced during configuration modification operations. Security researchers have noted that this weakness allows attackers to exploit unspecified vectors to gain unauthorized access to plugin settings, potentially leading to broader system compromise. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues in software applications. This type of flaw represents a fundamental breakdown in the principle of least privilege, where the plugin fails to verify whether the requesting user possesses sufficient permissions to perform the requested configuration changes.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the plugin's administrative interfaces without proper authentication verification. Attackers can leverage this weakness to modify color picker settings, potentially injecting malicious configurations or altering existing parameters that could affect the plugin's functionality. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the vulnerability description suggest that multiple attack pathways may exist, including but not limited to direct parameter manipulation, session hijacking, or exploitation of other related vulnerabilities within the WordPress ecosystem. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation and insufficient privilege checking mechanisms, allowing unauthorized users to perform administrative actions that should be restricted to authenticated administrators. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the plugin level, potentially affecting the broader WordPress installation and its associated security controls.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-3844 extends beyond simple configuration modification, as it represents a potential gateway for more extensive attacks within the WordPress environment. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to alter plugin behavior in ways that might facilitate further compromise, including the potential for code injection or the installation of malicious payloads. The vulnerability's presence in a widely used plugin increases the attack surface for targeted exploitation, as many WordPress installations rely on TinyMCE for rich text editing functionality. Organizations using affected versions face significant risk of unauthorized access to their content management systems, potentially leading to data manipulation, defacement, or service disruption. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation," highlights its potential for enabling attackers to gain elevated privileges within the WordPress environment. This type of vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1546, which addresses "Event Triggered Execution' through manipulation of plugin or theme components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-3844 require immediate action to upgrade to the patched version 1.2 or later, which addresses the permission checking deficiencies in the plugin implementation. System administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all installations using affected plugin versions and ensure proper patch management protocols are in place. Additional protective measures include implementing network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces, enforcing strong authentication mechanisms, and monitoring for unauthorized configuration changes. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper access control implementation and highlights the need for regular security audits of third-party plugins. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and prevent exploitation attempts targeting known vulnerabilities in content management systems. Regular security updates and patch management processes are essential to prevent exploitation of similar permission bypass vulnerabilities in other WordPress plugins and core components. The incident underscores the necessity of maintaining current security practices and the importance of verifying plugin integrity through trusted sources before installation.