CVE-2014-8802 in Pie Register
Summary
by MITRE
The Pie Register plugin before 2.0.14 for WordPress does not properly restrict access to certain functions in pie-register.php, which allows remote attackers to (1) add a user by uploading a crafted CSV file or (2) activate a user account via a verifyit action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/23/2025
The CVE-2014-8802 vulnerability affects the Pie Register plugin version 2.0.14 and earlier for WordPress, representing a critical access control flaw that undermines the security posture of affected websites. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and authorization checks within the pie-register.php file, which governs user registration and account management functionalities. The flaw exists in the plugin's permission system where specific administrative functions lack proper authentication mechanisms, creating pathways for unauthorized remote exploitation. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform privileged actions without proper credentials, fundamentally compromising the integrity of the user management system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through two distinct attack vectors that exploit the same underlying access control failure. The first vector allows attackers to upload malicious CSV files that trigger the addition of new user accounts to the WordPress system, bypassing normal registration procedures and potentially enabling account creation with elevated privileges. The second vector targets the verifyit action parameter, which controls user account activation processes, enabling attackers to activate arbitrary user accounts without proper verification or authorization. Both attack methods exploit the plugin's failure to validate user permissions before executing sensitive operations, creating a direct pathway for privilege escalation and unauthorized system modification.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to WordPress site administrators and their users. The ability to add users through CSV uploads creates opportunities for attackers to establish persistent access points within the system, potentially leading to full administrative control. The user activation capability further amplifies the impact by allowing attackers to immediately validate compromised accounts, making the attack more effective and harder to detect. The remote nature of these exploits means that attackers can target vulnerable systems without requiring physical access or direct system interaction, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where WordPress plugins are widely deployed. This flaw directly violates security principles of least privilege and proper authentication enforcement, creating persistent backdoors and unauthorized access mechanisms.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to Pie Register plugin version 2.0.14 or later, which contains the necessary access control fixes. System administrators should also review existing user accounts and remove any suspicious entries that may have been created through this vulnerability. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual CSV upload patterns and verifyit action requests that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1543 for creating or modifying system processes. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious requests, conducting regular security audits of WordPress plugins, and establishing proper access logging to detect unauthorized administrative activities. Regular patch management processes should be reinforced to ensure timely updates of all WordPress components and plugins, as this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of keeping CMS extensions current with security fixes.