CVE-2014-4582 in WP Consultant
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in admin/admin_show_dialogs.php in the WP Consultant plugin 1.0 and earlier for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the dialog_id parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2018
The CVE-2014-4582 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the WP Consultant plugin version 1.0 and earlier for WordPress platforms. This vulnerability resides within the admin/admin_show_dialogs.php file and exposes WordPress installations to significant security risks through improper input validation and output encoding practices. The vulnerability specifically affects the dialog_id parameter which is processed without adequate sanitization, creating an attack vector for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of authenticated admin sessions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a classic XSS attack pattern where an attacker crafts malicious input containing script tags or other HTML elements and injects them through the dialog_id parameter. When the vulnerable plugin processes this parameter without proper encoding or validation, the malicious content gets rendered in the admin interface, potentially executing scripts in the context of the logged-in administrator's browser. This creates a persistent threat where attackers can establish backdoors, steal session cookies, modify administrative settings, or even escalate privileges within the WordPress environment. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding, specifically addressing the failure to properly encode output data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to compromise entire WordPress installations through privilege escalation and session hijacking techniques. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability gains access to administrative functions, potentially allowing them to modify content, create new user accounts, install malicious plugins, or even gain full control over the website. This threat is particularly dangerous because it targets the administrative interface where the most sensitive operations occur, making it a prime target for attackers seeking long-term access to WordPress sites. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which describes the use of script-based commands to execute malicious code, and T1566 which covers social engineering attacks that can leverage XSS to establish initial access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-4582 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the input validation issues, as the WP Consultant plugin developers have released patches to resolve this vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation measures including parameter sanitization and output encoding to prevent similar issues in other custom plugins or themes. Network-based security controls such as web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection by detecting and blocking malicious payloads attempting to exploit XSS vulnerabilities. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify other potential XSS vulnerabilities within WordPress installations, while security monitoring should be implemented to detect suspicious activities that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and implementing proper security coding practices throughout the development lifecycle to prevent such persistent threats from compromising web applications.