CVE-2014-7151 in NEX-Forms Lite Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the NEX-Forms Lite plugin 2.1.0 for WordPress allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the form_fields parameter in a (1) do_edit or (2) do_insert action to wp-admin/admin-ajax.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/06/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7151 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the NEX-Forms Lite WordPress plugin version 2.1.0. This security weakness resides in the plugin's handling of user input through the form_fields parameter within the admin-ajax.php endpoint, making it particularly dangerous as it operates within the WordPress administrative interface where privileged users typically interact. The vulnerability specifically affects the do_edit and do_insert actions, which are fundamental operations for managing form data within the plugin's administrative framework. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of authenticated admin sessions, potentially compromising the entire WordPress installation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the plugin's processing logic. When administrators perform edit or insert operations through the administrative interface, the form_fields parameter is processed without adequate sanitization of user-supplied data. This lack of proper input filtering creates an opening for attackers to inject malicious HTML or JavaScript code that gets executed when the form data is rendered back to the administrator's browser. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of poor input validation and inadequate output encoding, which aligns with CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') and CWE-116 - Improper Encoding or Escaping of Output. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it leverages the trust relationship between the administrator and the WordPress admin interface, allowing for privilege escalation and potential full system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can lead to complete administrative takeover of WordPress installations. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can execute arbitrary code within the context of the administrator's session, potentially allowing them to modify or delete content, create new administrator accounts, or even install malware. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where multiple administrators have access to the plugin, as it could enable attackers to gain persistent access to the system. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 - Valid Accounts, as compromised administrator sessions provide attackers with elevated privileges. The vulnerability also supports ATT&CK technique T1566 - Phishing, as attackers may use the XSS to redirect administrators to malicious sites or to harvest credentials from the admin interface.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-7151 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening. The most effective immediate solution involves upgrading to a patched version of the NEX-Forms Lite plugin, as the vulnerability was resolved in subsequent releases. Administrators should also implement proper input validation and output sanitization measures, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly escaped before being rendered in the browser context. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by limiting access to the affected plugin's administrative functions to only those users who require such capabilities. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other plugins and themes, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices in WordPress plugin development. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect and prevent exploitation attempts targeting known XSS vulnerabilities in their WordPress installations.