CVE-2014-9338 in O2Tweet
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities in the O2Tweet plugin 0.0.4 and earlier for WordPress allow remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that conduct cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks via the (1) o2t_username or (2) o2t_tags parameter to wp-admin/options-general.php.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2018
The CVE-2014-9338 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw affecting the O2Tweet plugin version 0.0.4 and earlier within the WordPress ecosystem. This vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's handling of user authentication tokens and parameter validation mechanisms, creating a significant security risk for WordPress administrators who utilize this particular plugin. The flaw exists within the wp-admin/options-general.php endpoint, which serves as a critical administrative interface for WordPress configuration settings.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly validate and sanitize input parameters during administrative operations. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious requests that leverage the o2t_username and o2t_tags parameters to manipulate the plugin's behavior without proper authentication. These parameters are processed in the administrative context where the plugin performs operations that could lead to persistent cross-site scripting vulnerabilities when combined with the CSRF attack vector. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the authentication bypass mechanisms that should normally protect administrative functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to include potential data compromise and system infiltration. When administrators access the compromised plugin interface, attackers can execute malicious code that persists within the WordPress environment, potentially leading to full system compromise. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that allows attackers to maintain access even after initial exploitation, as the XSS payload can be stored and executed against other users who visit affected pages. This threat model aligns with ATT&CK technique T1548.001 for privilege escalation and T1566.001 for initial access through web application vulnerabilities.
The security implications of this vulnerability are particularly severe due to the privileged nature of the affected administrative functions. WordPress administrators possess the highest level of access within the system, making successful exploitation equivalent to complete system compromise. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and inadequate CSRF token implementation, both of which are classified under CWE-352 for cross-site request forgery and CWE-20 for improper input validation. Organizations running vulnerable versions of the O2Tweet plugin face significant risk of unauthorized administrative access, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action including plugin version updates to the latest secure release, implementation of proper CSRF token validation mechanisms, and enhanced input sanitization processes. Administrators should also consider implementing additional security measures such as web application firewalls, regular security audits, and monitoring for suspicious administrative activities. The remediation process involves not only updating the vulnerable plugin but also ensuring that all administrative interfaces properly validate authentication tokens and implement proper session management controls. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially affected plugins and ensure that their WordPress installations maintain current security standards.