CVE-2014-7181 in MaxButtons
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Max Foundry MaxButtons plugin before 1.26.1 for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the id parameter in a button action on the maxbuttons-controller page to wp-admin/admin.php, related to the button creation page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/13/2024
The CVE-2014-7181 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the Max Foundry MaxButtons WordPress plugin, specifically affecting versions prior to 1.26.1. This vulnerability resides within the plugin's administrative interface, specifically in the maxbuttons-controller page located at wp-admin/admin.php, where the id parameter fails to properly sanitize user input. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code through the button creation functionality, creating a persistent security risk for WordPress administrators and users who interact with the compromised plugin.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a code injection flaw where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without proper validation or escaping mechanisms. The vulnerability operates by accepting the id parameter directly from user input without adequate sanitization, allowing attackers to craft malicious payloads that execute within the context of the victim's browser. This occurs specifically when administrators navigate to the button creation page, making the attack surface particularly dangerous as it targets privileged users with elevated permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to create persistent backdoors through the compromised plugin interface, potentially gaining long-term access to the WordPress administration panel. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges since it targets the administrative interface, making it particularly dangerous for WordPress sites where the MaxButtons plugin is installed and active.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-7181 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to version 1.26.1 or later, which contain the necessary input validation fixes. Additionally, administrators should implement proper input sanitization measures including parameter validation, output encoding, and Content Security Policy enforcement to prevent similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the WordPress installation. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for scripting languages and T1566 for credential access through exploitation of web application vulnerabilities, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security measures including regular security audits, proper access controls, and monitoring of administrative interfaces to detect potential exploitation attempts.