CVE-2014-6412 in WordPress
Summary
by MITRE
WordPress before 4.4 makes it easier for remote attackers to predict password-recovery tokens via a brute-force approach.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/10/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6412 represents a significant weakness in WordPress authentication mechanisms that persisted across multiple versions prior to 4.4. This flaw fundamentally compromised the security of password recovery functionality by introducing predictable token generation patterns that adversaries could exploit through systematic brute-force attacks. The vulnerability specifically affected the password reset token generation process within WordPress core, creating an avenue for unauthorized users to bypass normal authentication procedures and potentially gain access to user accounts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stemmed from insufficient randomness in the password recovery token generation algorithm. WordPress relied on predictable methods for creating recovery tokens that did not adequately incorporate cryptographic randomness or sufficient entropy to ensure uniqueness and unpredictability. This weakness allowed attackers to analyze the pattern of generated tokens and systematically guess valid recovery tokens without requiring extensive computational resources. The flaw essentially created a backdoor that bypassed the intended security measures designed to protect user accounts during password recovery operations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-330, which addresses the use of insufficiently random values, and specifically demonstrates poor entropy implementation in cryptographic token generation. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability mapped directly to techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under credential access and privilege escalation tactics.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-6412 was substantial as it enabled attackers to conduct targeted brute-force campaigns against WordPress installations without requiring extensive computational resources or advanced techniques. Security researchers observed that the predictable nature of these tokens made them vulnerable to automated attack tools that could rapidly test potential combinations against the password recovery system. The vulnerability affected millions of WordPress installations globally, as it was present in versions that were widely deployed across various hosting environments and user configurations. Organizations and individuals who relied on WordPress for content management found their account recovery processes compromised, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive user data, website content manipulation, and broader system compromise. The vulnerability also created cascading security risks where compromised accounts could be used to launch further attacks against other systems or services.
The remediation for this vulnerability required WordPress to implement proper cryptographic randomization in the password recovery token generation process. The fix involved updating the core code to utilize secure random number generation functions that provided sufficient entropy and unpredictability for recovery tokens. Organizations should have immediately upgraded to WordPress version 4.4 or later to address this vulnerability, as the update contained the necessary cryptographic improvements. System administrators should have also implemented additional security measures including rate limiting for password recovery requests, monitoring for unusual patterns of recovery attempts, and ensuring that all WordPress installations remained current with security patches. The vulnerability highlighted the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation in web applications and demonstrated how seemingly minor flaws in authentication systems could have widespread security implications. Security best practices emerged from this incident emphasizing the need for thorough cryptographic review of all authentication mechanisms and the implementation of robust entropy requirements for security tokens.