CVE-2014-8754 in Ad-Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in track-click.php in the Ad-Manager plugin 1.1.2 for WordPress allows remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via a URL in the out parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-8754 represents a critical open redirect flaw within the Ad-Manager plugin version 1.1.2 for WordPress systems. This security weakness exists in the track-click.php script which processes user clicks and redirects them to external destinations. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the plugin fails to properly validate or sanitize the out parameter that contains the target URL for redirection. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious URLs that include crafted values in the out parameter, enabling them to redirect unsuspecting users to attacker-controlled websites.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the WordPress plugin's redirect functionality. When a user clicks on an advertisement tracked by the Ad-Manager plugin, the system should only permit redirection to legitimate destinations. However, the absence of proper sanitization allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary URLs into the out parameter, bypassing the plugin's intended redirect logic. This flaw directly aligns with CWE-601, which categorizes open redirect vulnerabilities as weaknesses where applications redirect users to unvalidated external URLs. The vulnerability creates a pathway for attackers to manipulate the redirection behavior through crafted input parameters, effectively undermining the security of the WordPress installation.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-8754 extends beyond simple redirection capabilities, enabling sophisticated phishing attacks that can compromise user credentials and sensitive information. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to create deceptive landing pages that appear legitimate to users, potentially capturing login credentials, personal data, or financial information. The open redirect mechanism provides attackers with a stealthy approach to bypass security measures such as URL filters or security scanners, as the initial redirection appears to originate from a trusted source within the WordPress environment. This vulnerability particularly affects WordPress installations where the Ad-Manager plugin is actively used, making it a significant concern for website administrators and security professionals managing multiple WordPress sites.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action from WordPress administrators to address the exposed security gap. The primary recommendation involves upgrading the Ad-Manager plugin to a version that properly validates and sanitizes the out parameter before processing redirects. System administrators should also implement network-level controls such as URL filtering and web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious redirection attempts. Additional defensive measures include monitoring access logs for unusual redirect patterns and implementing proper input validation at multiple layers of the application architecture. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper parameter validation and the principle of least privilege in web application security, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers phishing attacks through malicious links and redirects. Organizations should also consider implementing security awareness training to educate users about recognizing potentially malicious redirection attempts and the importance of verifying destination URLs before clicking on advertisements or links.