CVE-2014-4030 in Jw Player For Flash
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the JW Player plugin before 2.1.4 for WordPress allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that remove players via a delete action to wp-admin/admin.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2025
The CVE-2014-4030 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the JW Player WordPress plugin ecosystem. This vulnerability exists in versions prior to 2.1.4 and specifically targets the plugin's administrative interface. The flaw enables remote attackers to manipulate authenticated administrator sessions by crafting malicious requests that execute unauthorized delete operations against the WordPress administration panel. The vulnerability's exploitation potential stems from the plugin's failure to implement proper anti-CSRF mechanisms, allowing attackers to leverage legitimate administrator privileges for destructive actions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the fundamental principle of cross-site request forgery where an attacker can trick an authenticated user into executing unwanted actions on a web application. In this case, the JW Player plugin does not validate the origin of requests made to the wp-admin/admin.php endpoint, particularly when processing delete commands. When an administrator visits a malicious website or clicks on a compromised link, the attacker's server can automatically submit requests to the vulnerable plugin's delete functionality, effectively hijacking the administrator's session to remove player configurations without their knowledge or consent.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data deletion, as it provides attackers with the ability to compromise the entire WordPress administration environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this CSRF vulnerability can remove all player configurations, potentially disrupting media playback across the entire website. This type of attack can lead to complete service disruption, data loss, and in more severe scenarios, provide a foothold for further exploitation. The vulnerability particularly affects websites that rely heavily on media content management, as removing player configurations can render entire sections of the site non-functional.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in software applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566.001, which covers the technique of "Phishing with Pretext" and T1078.004, representing "Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts" when attackers can manipulate administrative sessions. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation and session management practices that violate fundamental security principles. Organizations should implement proper CSRF token validation, ensure that all administrative actions require explicit user confirmation, and maintain robust session management protocols to prevent such vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-4030 involve immediate patching of the JW Player plugin to version 2.1.4 or later, where the CSRF protection mechanisms have been properly implemented. Administrators should also consider implementing additional security measures such as role-based access controls, regular security audits, and monitoring for unauthorized administrative actions. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and proper nonce validation in WordPress administration interfaces can further reduce the risk of exploitation. Organizations should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate similar issues across their entire WordPress ecosystem, particularly focusing on plugin security and authentication mechanisms.