CVE-2014-7956 in Pods
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Pods plugin before 2.5 for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the id parameter in an edit action in the pods page to wp-admin/admin.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2022
The CVE-2014-7956 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Pods plugin for WordPress, specifically affecting versions prior to 2.5. This vulnerability resides in the administrative interface of the plugin, where user input is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to the browser. The issue manifests when an attacker exploits the id parameter within the edit action of the pods page located at wp-admin/admin.php, allowing malicious scripts to be injected into the web application's response. The vulnerability is classified as a persistent XSS attack vector, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of a victim's browser session.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the id parameter in administrative requests, where the Pods plugin fails to implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. When the plugin processes the id parameter without adequate sanitization, it directly incorporates user-supplied data into the HTML response, creating an environment where malicious payloads can be executed. This flaw directly maps to CWE-79, which describes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, commonly known as cross-site scripting. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform session hijacking, deface websites, steal sensitive information, or redirect users to malicious domains.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to compromise the WordPress administrative interface. Once an attacker successfully injects malicious code through the id parameter, they can manipulate the plugin's administrative functions, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive data, modifying content, or installing additional malware. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the WordPress installation, as it allows attackers to execute code with the privileges of authenticated users. This creates a significant risk for organizations relying on WordPress with the Pods plugin, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized data access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-7956 focus on immediate patching of the Pods plugin to version 2.5 or later, which contains the necessary input validation and sanitization fixes. Organizations should also implement additional security measures including regular security audits of WordPress plugins, input validation at multiple layers, and output encoding for all user-supplied data. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Security professionals should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious payloads targeting known XSS vulnerabilities. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary commands through script injection. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins and ensure all WordPress components are regularly updated to maintain security posture against evolving threats.