CVE-2014-9013 in WP Marketplace Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The ajaxinit function in wpmarketplace/libs/cart.php in the WP Marketplace plugin 2.4.0 for WordPress allows remote authenticated users to create arbitrary users and gain admin privileges via a request to wpmp_pp_ajax_call with an execution target of wp_insert_user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9013 resides within the WP Marketplace plugin version 2.4.0 for WordPress, specifically in the ajaxinit function located in wpmarketplace/libs/cart.php. This flaw represents a critical authorization bypass vulnerability that enables authenticated attackers to exploit the plugin's AJAX handling mechanism to create arbitrary user accounts with elevated privileges. The vulnerability manifests through a crafted request to the wpmp_pp_ajax_call endpoint with a targeted execution of wp_insert_user, which is a core WordPress function for user account creation. The attack vector requires only authentication to the WordPress site, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by users who have legitimate access but should not possess administrative capabilities. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a significant failure in input validation and access control mechanisms within the plugin's AJAX processing layer.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on the improper sanitization and validation of parameters within the ajaxinit function, which processes AJAX requests without adequate authorization checks. When an authenticated user submits a request to wpmp_pp_ajax_call with the wp_insert_user execution target, the plugin fails to verify whether the requesting user has sufficient privileges to perform user creation operations. The wp_insert_user function in WordPress is typically protected by administrative permissions and requires proper capability checks, but the WP Marketplace plugin bypasses these security measures through its flawed AJAX implementation. This represents a classic case of insufficient input validation and authorization checks, which can be categorized under CWE-863, "Insufficient Authorization," and falls within the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques. The vulnerability essentially allows an attacker to manipulate the WordPress user creation process through a legitimate plugin interface, effectively circumventing the normal WordPress permission model.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple user creation, as it provides attackers with the ability to escalate privileges to administrator level accounts within the WordPress environment. Once an attacker successfully creates an administrative user account, they gain complete control over the WordPress site, including the ability to modify content, install malicious plugins, alter theme files, and potentially access sensitive data. The vulnerability affects all WordPress installations running the affected plugin version, making it particularly dangerous for sites with multiple users or those that do not regularly update their plugins. The attack requires minimal technical expertise and can be automated, making it a significant threat to WordPress sites that have not patched this vulnerability. Organizations may face severe consequences including data breaches, website defacement, and potential compromise of the entire WordPress installation, as the attacker can leverage the administrative account to pivot into other systems or services that may be connected to the compromised WordPress instance.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-9013 should prioritize immediate patching of the WP Marketplace plugin to version 2.4.1 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Administrators should also implement network-level restrictions to limit access to the plugin's AJAX endpoints, particularly by blocking direct access to wpmp_pp_ajax_call unless absolutely necessary. Additional protective measures include implementing proper monitoring of user creation activities and establishing automated alerts for suspicious account creation patterns. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and authorization checks in plugin development, as well as the necessity for regular security audits of third-party WordPress plugins. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious AJAX requests targeting known vulnerable endpoints. The remediation process should include thorough testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce compatibility issues with existing site functionality, while also verifying that proper access controls have been restored to prevent similar privilege escalation scenarios in other parts of the WordPress ecosystem.