CVE-2014-7152 in Easy MailChimp Forms plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Easy MailChimp Forms plugin 3.0 through 5.0.6 for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the update_options action to wp-admin/admin-ajax.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/19/2018
The CVE-2014-7152 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Easy MailChimp Forms WordPress plugin, affecting versions ranging from 3.0 through 5.0.6. This vulnerability exists in the plugin's handling of administrative AJAX requests, specifically within the update_options action that processes data through the wp-admin/admin-ajax.php endpoint. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly filter malicious payloads submitted by unauthenticated remote attackers. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and directly impacts the WordPress administrative interface, creating a significant attack surface that could be exploited by threat actors seeking to compromise WordPress installations. This issue aligns with CWE-79, which classifies cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as a fundamental weakness in web application security, where improper validation of user-supplied data allows malicious scripts to be executed in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to send malicious input through the wp-admin/admin-ajax.php endpoint, specifically targeting the update_options action handler within the Easy MailChimp Forms plugin. The attack vector leverages the plugin's insufficient sanitization of parameters passed to the administrative AJAX interface, allowing arbitrary HTML and JavaScript code to be injected into the WordPress admin environment. When legitimate administrators access the affected pages or perform administrative actions, the malicious script executes in their browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, privilege escalation, or data exfiltration. This vulnerability operates under the ATT&CK framework's T1566 technique for initial access through web application attacks, specifically targeting the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to administrative functions.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-7152 extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to establish persistent access to WordPress administrative interfaces. Successful exploitation could enable threat actors to modify plugin configurations, install backdoors, manipulate user accounts, or extract sensitive information from the WordPress installation. The vulnerability's scope is particularly concerning because it affects the core administrative AJAX functionality, meaning that any administrative user who interacts with the compromised system could become a victim of the injected malicious code. The attack requires no authentication to initiate the injection process, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by anyone with access to the target WordPress installation's frontend or administrative interface. This vulnerability directly undermines the security model of WordPress installations and represents a significant risk to organizations relying on the Easy MailChimp Forms plugin for email marketing automation and user subscription management.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-7152 focus primarily on immediate plugin updates to versions that address the XSS vulnerability, as well as implementing comprehensive input validation and output sanitization measures. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to the latest available version of the Easy MailChimp Forms plugin, ensuring that all administrative interfaces properly sanitize user inputs before processing. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth by monitoring and filtering malicious AJAX requests to wp-admin/admin-ajax.php. Administrative users should implement strict access controls and monitor for unauthorized changes to plugin configurations, while security monitoring systems should be configured to detect anomalous patterns in AJAX request processing. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-79 and its exploitation patterns align with standard security best practices for preventing XSS attacks, including the implementation of Content Security Policy headers, proper input validation, and output encoding mechanisms. Regular security audits of WordPress plugins and themes remain essential for identifying similar vulnerabilities that could compromise administrative interfaces and user data integrity.