CVE-2014-7297 in Enfold
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the folder framework in the Enfold theme before 3.0.1 for WordPress has unknown impact and attack vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/13/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7297 resides within the folder framework component of the Enfold theme for WordPress, a widely used premium theme that has been subject to numerous security assessments over the years. This particular issue affects versions prior to 3.0.1, indicating that it represents a flaw that was discovered and potentially exploited before the theme received a security patch. The unspecified nature of both the impact and attack vectors suggests that the vulnerability may have been complex or multifaceted in its design, potentially encompassing multiple exploitation pathways that were not fully characterized at the time of reporting.
The folder framework component within WordPress themes typically handles various administrative functions including file management, directory traversal operations, and user interface elements that interact with the underlying file system. When such components contain vulnerabilities, they often provide attackers with opportunities to manipulate the theme's behavior or access sensitive system resources. The fact that this vulnerability exists within a theme framework rather than core WordPress functionality indicates that it likely operates through the theme's administrative interfaces or file handling mechanisms, potentially allowing unauthorized users to execute malicious code or access restricted resources.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant security risk for WordPress sites using affected versions of the Enfold theme. Attackers who can exploit this vulnerability may gain unauthorized access to the theme's folder structure, potentially leading to privilege escalation or remote code execution capabilities. The impact could extend beyond the immediate theme functionality to affect the broader WordPress installation, particularly if the vulnerability allows for directory traversal or file inclusion attacks that could be leveraged to compromise other parts of the system. Given that WordPress themes often provide extensive customization options and administrative interfaces, such vulnerabilities can serve as entry points for more sophisticated attacks.
The vulnerability's classification within the context of cybersecurity frameworks reveals its potential alignment with multiple CWE categories including CWE-22 for path traversal, CWE-79 for cross-site scripting, or CWE-94 for code injection, though the exact mapping would depend on the specific implementation details. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability would likely map to techniques involving privilege escalation and initial access through web application vulnerabilities, potentially utilizing methods such as web shell deployment or credential compromise. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that multiple exploitation pathways may have existed, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as defenders would struggle to implement comprehensive protective measures without full knowledge of all possible attack methods.
Organizations using the Enfold theme should immediately upgrade to version 3.0.1 or later to address this vulnerability, as the lack of specific information about impact and attack vectors indicates that the vulnerability may have been more severe than initially reported. Security administrators should also conduct thorough assessments of their WordPress installations to identify any potential exploitation attempts and implement additional monitoring for unusual file access patterns or administrative activities. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of keeping WordPress themes updated and maintaining comprehensive security monitoring for web applications. Organizations should consider implementing automated patch management systems to ensure timely updates of all WordPress components, including themes and plugins, as these elements often represent significant attack surfaces that require regular security maintenance and monitoring.