CVE-2014-4535 in Import Legacy Media Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Import Legacy Media plugin 0.1 and earlier for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the filename parameter to getid3/demos/demo.mimeonly.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/18/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-4535 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Import Legacy Media plugin for WordPress systems. This issue affects versions 0.1 and earlier, making it a significant concern for WordPress installations that have not been updated to newer versions. The vulnerability resides in the plugin's handling of user-supplied input within the getid3/demos/demo.mimeonly.php file, specifically targeting the filename parameter which serves as an entry point for malicious input injection.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the filename parameter in the URL path getid3/demos/demo.mimeonly.php. When an attacker crafts a malicious payload and submits it through this parameter, the plugin fails to properly sanitize or validate the input before rendering it within the web page context. This lack of input validation creates an environment where arbitrary HTML or JavaScript code can be executed in the context of other users' browsers who visit the affected page. The vulnerability specifically falls under CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting as a weakness in input validation and output encoding, where untrusted data is directly incorporated into web pages without proper sanitization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, redirection to malicious sites, and data manipulation. WordPress users who have installed the vulnerable plugin are at risk of having their sites compromised, potentially leading to complete system takeover if attackers can leverage the XSS to execute more sophisticated attacks. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires minimal privileges and can be executed remotely, making it an attractive target for automated exploitation tools. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which describes the use of web application vulnerabilities to gain initial access, and T1059 which covers the execution of malicious code through scripting languages.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that have addressed the XSS flaw, as well as implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application. Administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious payloads targeting known XSS patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of keeping WordPress plugins up-to-date and following secure coding practices that properly validate and sanitize all user inputs before processing or rendering them within web contexts. Organizations should also implement regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning to identify and remediate similar issues before they can be exploited by threat actors.