CVE-2014-4537 in Keyword Strategy Internal Links
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in inpage.tpl.php in the Keyword Strategy Internal Links plugin 2.0 and earlier for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) sort, (2) search, or (3) dir parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/04/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4537 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Keyword Strategy Internal Links plugin for WordPress, specifically affecting versions 2.0 and earlier. This vulnerability exists in the inpage.tpl.php file and exposes WordPress installations to remote code execution risks through malicious web script injection. The flaw manifests when user-supplied input is not properly sanitized or validated before being rendered in the web page context, creating an avenue for attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the victim's browser session.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through three distinct parameter injection points: sort, search, and dir parameters. These parameters are typically used for user interface navigation and data manipulation within the plugin's administrative interface. When an attacker manipulates these parameters with malicious input containing script tags or other HTML content, the vulnerable code fails to properly escape or filter the input before outputting it to the browser. This allows the injected script to execute within the context of the authenticated user's session, potentially enabling session hijacking, data theft, or further exploitation of the compromised WordPress installation. The vulnerability is classified as a classic reflected XSS attack where malicious input is immediately reflected back to the user without proper sanitization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can lead to complete compromise of WordPress administrative sessions. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal administrator cookies, modify website content, install malicious plugins, or redirect users to phishing sites. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the plugin's administrative interface, meaning that successful exploitation could allow attackers to gain full control over the WordPress site's content management capabilities. This represents a significant threat to website integrity and user data security, as the compromised administrative access can be used to modify content, create backdoors, or exfiltrate sensitive information from the WordPress database.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-4537 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the XSS vulnerability, as the original vulnerable versions are no longer supported. System administrators should implement input validation and output encoding measures to prevent malicious code from being executed in web applications. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script injection attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious parameter injection attempts, while maintaining regular security audits of installed plugins to identify potential vulnerabilities. Additionally, restricting administrative access through multi-factor authentication and implementing proper access controls can significantly reduce the impact of such vulnerabilities. The remediation process must include thorough testing of updated plugins to ensure compatibility and continued functionality while addressing the security gap that existed in the vulnerable versions.