CVE-2014-9031 in WordPress
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the wptexturize function in WordPress before 3.7.5, 3.8.x before 3.8.5, and 3.9.x before 3.9.3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via crafted use of shortcode brackets in a text field, as demonstrated by a comment or a post.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2022
The CVE-2014-9031 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in WordPress core functionality that affected multiple versions prior to specific security releases. This vulnerability resides within the wptexturize function, which is responsible for processing text content to apply various typography enhancements such as converting straight quotes to curly quotes and replacing hyphens with en-dashes or em-dashes. The flaw emerged from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within this text processing function, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary JavaScript code through carefully crafted content submissions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when attackers submit content containing specially formatted shortcode brackets that bypass WordPress's normal sanitization processes. The wptexturize function processes text fields without adequately filtering or escaping these bracket sequences, allowing malicious scripts to be embedded within comment sections, post content, or other user-contributed text fields. This particular implementation flaw stems from improper handling of HTML entity encoding and shortcode parsing, where the function fails to properly sanitize input before applying typography transformations. The vulnerability specifically affects WordPress versions 3.7.4 and earlier, 3.8.4 and earlier, and 3.9.2 and earlier, making it a widespread issue across multiple release branches.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-9031 extends beyond simple XSS execution to potentially compromise entire WordPress installations and user sessions. When exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the context of other users' browsers, enabling session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it leverages legitimate WordPress comment and post submission mechanisms, making it difficult to distinguish between benign user content and malicious payloads. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments or links, though in this case the attack occurs through content submission rather than email-based delivery. The impact is amplified in multi-user environments where administrators or other privileged users may view compromised content, potentially leading to privilege escalation or complete system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-9031 require immediate application of the security patches released by WordPress developers, specifically updating to versions 3.7.5, 3.8.5, or 3.9.3, depending on the affected installation. Organizations should implement comprehensive content filtering measures including input validation at multiple layers, enhanced HTML sanitization, and regular security audits of user-generated content. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization and the principle of least privilege in web application security, as the flaw could be exploited even by users with minimal permissions. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious content patterns, though the most effective defense remains timely patch management and maintaining updated security configurations. This vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of how seemingly benign text processing functions can introduce significant security risks when proper sanitization controls are not implemented.