CVE-2014-9340 in wpCommentTwit
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities in the wpCommentTwit plugin 0.5 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) username or (2) password parameter in the wpCommentTwit.php page to wp-admin/options-general.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2018
The CVE-2014-9340 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw in the wpCommentTwit WordPress plugin version 0.5 and earlier, demonstrating a fundamental security weakness in web application authentication mechanisms. This vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's handling of user credentials during administrative operations, creating a pathway for remote attackers to exploit the trust relationship between users and the WordPress administration interface. The flaw manifests in the wpCommentTwit.php file when processing requests to the wp-admin/options-general.php endpoint, where the plugin fails to implement proper CSRF protection measures for sensitive administrative functions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of anti-CSRF tokens or validation mechanisms within the plugin's administrative forms. Attackers can craft malicious requests that leverage the trust relationship between authenticated administrators and the WordPress admin interface, specifically targeting the username and password parameters. When administrators visit compromised pages or are tricked into clicking malicious links, the plugin processes these requests without proper verification, allowing attackers to execute unauthorized actions. This represents a classic CSRF attack vector where the malicious request appears to originate from a legitimate administrator, bypassing standard authentication checks. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it combines CSRF with potential XSS exploitation, amplifying the attack surface and potential impact on compromised systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it provides attackers with administrative privileges that can be leveraged for extensive system compromise. Once an attacker successfully hijacks an administrator's session, they can modify plugin configurations, inject malicious code, or manipulate user data through the wpCommentTwit plugin's functionality. The vulnerability affects the broader WordPress ecosystem by potentially allowing attackers to establish persistent backdoors or exfiltrate sensitive information from the compromised site. The risk is compounded by the fact that WordPress administrators often have elevated privileges and access to critical system components, making successful exploitation particularly damaging for organizations relying on WordPress for their web presence.
Security mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate CSRF protection gaps and broader plugin security practices. Organizations should immediately upgrade to wpCommentTwit plugin versions that implement proper CSRF token validation and authentication checks, following the principle of least privilege by ensuring only authenticated users can access administrative functions. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and proper input validation can further protect against exploitation attempts, while regular security audits of WordPress plugins should include CSRF vulnerability assessments. According to CWE guidelines, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery, and aligns with ATT&CK techniques covering privilege escalation and credential access. Administrators should also implement network monitoring to detect suspicious administrative activities and maintain regular backups to facilitate recovery from potential compromise scenarios.