CVE-2014-4533 in GEO Redirector
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in ajax_functions.php in the GEO Redirector plugin 1.0.1 and earlier for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the hid_id parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/06/2018
The CVE-2014-4533 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the GEO Redirector WordPress plugin, specifically affecting versions 1.0.1 and earlier. This vulnerability resides in the ajax_functions.php file and demonstrates how poorly validated user input can lead to significant security compromises in web applications. The issue manifests when the hid_id parameter is processed without adequate sanitization, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the application's response. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can be exploited by attackers who do not require authentication or elevated privileges to compromise the system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows standard XSS attack patterns where an attacker crafts malicious input containing script tags or HTML elements that get executed in the context of other users' browsers. When the GEO Redirector plugin processes the hid_id parameter through ajax_functions.php, it fails to properly validate or escape the input before incorporating it into the HTTP response. This lack of input sanitization creates a persistent XSS vector that can be leveraged to execute malicious code in victims' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further exploitation of the compromised user sessions.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to WordPress installations using the affected GEO Redirector plugin. The attack surface extends to all users who interact with pages that utilize the plugin's AJAX functionality, making it particularly dangerous for sites with high user engagement or administrative access. The vulnerability can be exploited through various vectors including crafted URLs, malicious comments, or even social engineering attacks where users are tricked into clicking malicious links. The potential for persistent XSS means that once a victim visits an infected page, the malicious script will execute every time they access that page, creating long-term exposure for the compromised users.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of broader web application security frameworks, particularly when analyzing the CWE-79 weakness category for cross-site scripting. The ATT&CK framework would classify this as a technique involving web application exploitation through input validation flaws, potentially leading to privilege escalation or data exfiltration. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected WordPress installations and implement proper input validation measures including output encoding and Content Security Policy implementations. Additionally, regular security audits of WordPress plugins and themes should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other third-party components. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that all user inputs are properly sanitized before being processed or displayed, with particular attention to AJAX endpoints that handle dynamic content processing.