CVE-2014-9100 in AdSense
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the WhyDoWork AdSense plugin 1.2 for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the idcode parameter in the whydowork_adsense page to wp-admin/options-general.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/04/2022
The CVE-2014-9100 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the WhyDoWork AdSense plugin version 1.2 for WordPress systems. This vulnerability exists in the administrative interface of WordPress, specifically within the wp-admin/options-general.php page where the whydowork_adsense module is accessible. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it within the web page context. Attackers can exploit this weakness by manipulating the idcode parameter through the targeted administrative URL path, thereby injecting malicious scripts or HTML content that executes in the context of authenticated admin sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding. The vulnerability operates through a classic reflected XSS attack vector where malicious input flows directly from user interaction through the application to the victim's browser without being stored. The whydowork_adsense plugin fails to implement proper sanitization of the idcode parameter, allowing attackers to inject script tags or other malicious HTML elements that persistently execute when the administrative page loads. This creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited by remote attackers without requiring any privileged access to the WordPress installation itself.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-9100 extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with elevated privileges within the WordPress administrative environment. When authenticated administrators access the compromised page, their browsers execute the injected malicious code, potentially allowing attackers to perform actions such as modifying plugin configurations, creating new administrative users, or extracting sensitive data from the WordPress database. The vulnerability specifically targets the wp-admin interface, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged to establish persistent backdoors or exfiltrate credentials from the WordPress administration panel. This threat model aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 which covers the execution of malicious code through web interfaces, and T1078 which addresses legitimate credentials usage for persistence.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-9100 should prioritize immediate plugin removal or update to patched versions, as the vulnerability affects a specific plugin version that was likely deprecated and unsupported. Organizations should implement proper input validation mechanisms that sanitize all user-supplied parameters before processing, particularly within administrative interfaces where privileged operations occur. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against reflected XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed. Network-based security controls such as web application firewalls should be configured to detect and block suspicious parameter values in administrative URLs. Regular security audits of WordPress plugins and themes remain essential for identifying similar vulnerabilities, while maintaining updated security practices including regular WordPress core updates and plugin management to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.