CVE-2014-4546 in Rezgo
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in book_ajax.php in the Rezgo plugin 1.4.2 and earlier for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the response parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/11/2019
The CVE-2014-4546 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Rezgo plugin for WordPress, specifically affecting versions 1.4.2 and earlier. This vulnerability resides in the book_ajax.php component of the plugin, which processes AJAX requests for booking functionality. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of authenticated users' browsers, potentially compromising the security of entire WordPress installations. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the plugin's AJAX handling code.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the response parameter in the book_ajax.php script. When users submit booking requests through the plugin's interface, the application processes these requests via AJAX calls that ultimately route through the vulnerable book_ajax.php file. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when processed by the vulnerable plugin, get executed in the browsers of unsuspecting users who are logged into the WordPress administration interface. This creates a persistent threat vector where attackers can inject arbitrary HTML and JavaScript code that executes with the privileges of the victim user.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-4546 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks within the WordPress environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, modify content, or even escalate privileges within the WordPress installation. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the administrative interface, meaning that if a privileged user interacts with the compromised plugin, the attacker gains elevated access to the entire WordPress system. This aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as a fundamental weakness in input validation and output encoding.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is significant given the widespread adoption of WordPress and the Rezgo plugin for travel booking services. The vulnerability is classified under the ATT&CK framework as a web application attack vector, specifically related to the execution of malicious code within user browsers. Security researchers have noted that the flaw demonstrates poor defensive programming practices in the plugin's codebase, where user-supplied data is not properly escaped or validated before being rendered back to the browser. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in the context of web applications that handle sensitive user data and transactional information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-4546 primarily involve immediate patching of the Rezgo plugin to version 1.4.3 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures such as input validation at multiple layers, output encoding for all dynamic content, and regular security audits of third-party plugins. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date WordPress plugins and following security best practices such as the principle of least privilege, where plugin functionality is restricted to only necessary permissions. Network monitoring and intrusion detection systems should also be configured to detect anomalous AJAX request patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.