CVE-2014-4528 in fbpromotions
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in admin/swarm-settings.php in the Bugs Go Viral : Facebook Promotion Generator (fbpromotions) plugin 1.3.4 and earlier for WordPress allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) promo_type, (2) fb_edit_action, or (3) promo_id parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/18/2019
The CVE-2014-4528 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the Bugs Go Viral Facebook Promotion Generator plugin for WordPress, specifically affecting versions 1.3.4 and earlier. This vulnerability resides within the admin/swarm-settings.php file, making it particularly dangerous as it targets the administrative interface of WordPress installations. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of authenticated admin sessions, potentially leading to complete compromise of affected WordPress sites. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with elevated privileges and access to sensitive administrative functions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the plugin's administrative settings page. Attackers can exploit three distinct parameters including promo_type, fb_edit_action, and promo_id to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content. These parameters are processed without proper sanitization, allowing attackers to craft payloads that persist in the application's database and execute whenever the affected admin page is accessed. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79, which describes Cross-Site Scripting flaws where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web page content without adequate validation or escaping mechanisms. This weakness creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited by attackers who gain access to the WordPress admin interface through various means.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-4528 is severe and multifaceted, as it enables attackers to hijack administrative sessions and gain full control over WordPress installations. Once exploited, attackers can modify or delete content, install malicious plugins, change user permissions, and potentially establish persistent backdoors within the compromised systems. The vulnerability's location within the admin settings page means that successful exploitation directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of the entire WordPress installation, as administrators are typically the most privileged users within the system. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers Scripting through the execution of malicious scripts in web applications, and T1566.002, which involves phishing with malicious attachments or links that could exploit such vulnerabilities. The persistent nature of XSS attacks means that once the vulnerability is exploited, the malicious code can continue to execute against all subsequent users who access the compromised admin interface.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-4528 must include immediate patching of the affected plugin to version 1.3.5 or later, which addresses the input validation issues. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures across all user-supplied data, particularly within administrative interfaces. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth protection against XSS exploitation attempts. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins and themes. Network segmentation and privileged access controls can limit the potential damage if exploitation occurs. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls with XSS detection capabilities can provide real-time protection against such attacks. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date plugins and themes, as well as the necessity of implementing robust input validation and output encoding practices throughout web applications to prevent similar security incidents.