CVE-2014-9129 in Cm Download Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the CreativeMinds CM Downloads Manager plugin before 2.0.7 for WordPress allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that conduct cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks via the addons_title parameter in the CMDM_admin_settings page to wp-admin/admin.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2022
The CVE-2014-9129 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw in the CreativeMinds CM Downloads Manager WordPress plugin, affecting versions prior to 2.0.7. This vulnerability operates within the WordPress administrative interface and creates a dangerous attack vector that enables remote threat actors to exploit administrator sessions. The flaw specifically resides in the CMDM_admin_settings page handler within the wp-admin/admin.php endpoint, where the addons_title parameter fails to implement proper CSRF protection mechanisms. This oversight creates a pathway for attackers to craft malicious requests that can be executed within the context of an authenticated administrator session, effectively bypassing standard authentication controls.
The technical execution of this vulnerability leverages the fundamental principle of CSRF attacks where an attacker crafts a malicious request that appears to originate from a legitimate administrator. When an administrator visits a compromised page or clicks on a malicious link, the malicious request is automatically submitted to the WordPress admin interface without the user's knowledge or explicit consent. The addons_title parameter serves as the primary attack vector, allowing attackers to inject malicious content that can then be executed as part of the administrative workflow. This creates a dangerous scenario where the attacker can manipulate the plugin's settings and potentially execute cross-site scripting attacks against other users who interact with the compromised system.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-9129 extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited to gain complete administrative control over WordPress installations. Once an attacker successfully hijacks an administrator's session, they can modify plugin configurations, inject malicious code into the system, and potentially establish backdoors for continued access. The vulnerability's ability to facilitate XSS attacks amplifies the risk significantly, as it allows attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of the administrator's browser, potentially leading to credential theft, data exfiltration, and further compromise of the entire WordPress installation. This represents a severe threat to web application security and can result in complete system compromise.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate the risk. The primary and most critical mitigation involves upgrading to the patched version 2.0.7 or later of the CM Downloads Manager plugin, which includes proper CSRF token validation mechanisms. Additionally, administrators should implement Content Security Policy headers to prevent unauthorized script execution, establish robust input validation for all administrative parameters, and consider implementing additional authentication controls such as two-factor authentication. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual administrative activities and parameter manipulation attempts. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery weaknesses, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for valid accounts and T1566.001 for credential access through social engineering, highlighting the multi-faceted nature of the threat landscape this vulnerability exposes.