CVE-2014-4941 in wp-cross-rss
Summary
by MITRE
Absolute path traversal vulnerability in Cross-RSS (wp-cross-rss) plugin 1.7 for WordPress allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a full pathname in the rss parameter to proxy.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2024
The CVE-2014-4941 vulnerability represents a critical absolute path traversal flaw within the Cross-RSS WordPress plugin version 1.7, specifically affecting the proxy.php script. This vulnerability exposes WordPress installations to remote code execution and data exfiltration attacks by allowing malicious actors to manipulate the rss parameter with absolute file paths. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the plugin's proxy functionality, which is designed to fetch and display RSS feeds from external sources while maintaining server-side security boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through improper handling of user-supplied input in the rss parameter of the proxy.php endpoint. When a remote attacker submits a crafted absolute path through this parameter, the plugin fails to validate or sanitize the input before processing it within the file system context. This lack of input filtering creates a direct path traversal condition where the application attempts to access files using the provided absolute path rather than the intended relative path. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. This weakness allows attackers to access files outside the intended directory scope, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, system compromise, or further exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file reading capabilities, as it enables attackers to potentially access sensitive system files, configuration data, and other critical resources that should remain protected. In a WordPress environment, this could lead to exposure of wp-config.php files containing database credentials, plugin configuration files, user authentication data, or even server-level files that could provide attackers with elevated privileges or system access. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no authentication and can be executed through a simple HTTP request, making it highly exploitable in automated scanning and attack scenarios. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which covers the discovery of file and directory permissions, and T1566, which covers credential harvesting through various attack vectors including web application vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-4941 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening measures. The most effective immediate solution involves updating to a patched version of the Cross-RSS plugin or completely removing the vulnerable plugin from the WordPress installation. Organizations should implement input validation and sanitization measures that enforce strict path validation, ensuring that all user-supplied input is properly filtered to prevent absolute path injection. Additional protective measures include implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious path traversal patterns, restricting file system permissions for WordPress plugin directories, and conducting regular security audits of installed plugins to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. Network-level protections such as restricting access to proxy.php endpoints and implementing proper logging and monitoring can help detect exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and conducting thorough security testing of third-party components before deployment, as this flaw demonstrates how inadequate input validation can create severe security implications in web applications.