CVE-2014-7958 in BulletProof Security
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in admin/htaccess/bpsunlock.php in the BulletProof Security plugin before .51.1 for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the dbhost parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2022
The CVE-2014-7958 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the BulletProof Security WordPress plugin, specifically within the admin/htaccess/bpsunlock.php file. This vulnerability affects versions prior to .51.1 and exposes WordPress administrators to significant security risks through malicious web script injection. The flaw resides in the improper sanitization of user input parameters, particularly the dbhost parameter, which is processed without adequate validation or encoding mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that target the vulnerable parameter, potentially executing arbitrary scripts within the context of authenticated admin sessions. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, making it a well-documented and serious security concern in web application development.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a remote attacker manipulates the dbhost parameter in the bpsunlock.php endpoint to inject malicious HTML or JavaScript code. This injection takes place during the processing of database host information within the plugin's administrative interface, where the input is not properly escaped or validated before being rendered back to the user. The lack of input sanitization creates an environment where attacker-controlled data can be executed as legitimate content, potentially allowing for session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the compromised administrative account. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input handling practices that violate fundamental web security principles and can be classified under the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script injection, specifically targeting the web application layer.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-7958 extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with a potential foothold for more sophisticated attacks within WordPress environments. When an administrator accesses the vulnerable page, the malicious code executes in their browser with full administrative privileges, enabling unauthorized modifications to site configuration, user management, or content manipulation. The vulnerability can facilitate persistent threats where attackers establish backdoors or exfiltrate sensitive data from the WordPress installation. Additionally, the compromised administrative session could allow attackers to install malicious plugins, modify security settings, or create new administrator accounts. This represents a severe privilege escalation vector that undermines the integrity of the entire WordPress security framework and can lead to complete system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-7958 primarily focus on immediate remediation through plugin updates to version .51.1 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms. Administrators should implement comprehensive input filtering and output encoding practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities in other components of their WordPress installations. The security community recommends applying the latest security patches promptly and maintaining updated security plugins to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls and content security policies to add additional layers of protection against XSS attacks. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar input validation weaknesses throughout the application stack. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and implementing proper parameter validation as outlined in OWASP Top Ten security guidelines, particularly addressing the prevention of cross-site scripting attacks through proper input sanitization and output encoding techniques.