CVE-2014-9396 in SimpleFlickr
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities in the SimpleFlickr plugin 3.0.3 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) simpleflickr_width, (2) simpleflickr_bgcolor, or (3) simpleflickr_xmldatapath parameter in the simpleFlickr.php page to wp-admin/options-general.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2022
The CVE-2014-9396 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw in the SimpleFlickr WordPress plugin version 3.0.3 and earlier. This vulnerability exists within the plugin's handling of user input parameters in the simpleFlickr.php file, which is accessed through the wp-admin/options-general.php administrative interface. The flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate administrative sessions by exploiting the lack of proper CSRF protection mechanisms in the plugin's parameter validation process.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves three specific parameters that are susceptible to manipulation: simpleflickr_width, simpleflickr_bgcolor, and simpleflickr_xmldatapath. These parameters are processed without adequate validation or anti-CSRF token verification, creating an exploitable condition where an attacker can craft malicious requests that appear to originate from authenticated administrators. The vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to implement proper request origin verification or session token validation, which are fundamental security controls recommended by the OWASP Top Ten and CWE-352.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables attackers to execute cross-site scripting attacks with administrator privileges. When an administrator visits a malicious page or clicks on a crafted link, the CSRF attack can silently submit requests that modify plugin settings or inject malicious scripts into the WordPress administration interface. This creates a persistent threat vector that can lead to complete administrative compromise, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within the compromised WordPress environment. The vulnerability specifically targets the wp-admin area, making it particularly dangerous as it operates within the privileged administrative context.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery conditions, and demonstrates the importance of implementing proper CSRF protection mechanisms in web applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique through session hijacking, where attackers leverage existing authenticated sessions to perform unauthorized actions. The vulnerability's impact is amplified because it affects a widely used WordPress plugin, increasing the potential attack surface and making it a target for automated exploitation campaigns. Organizations using vulnerable versions of the SimpleFlickr plugin face significant risk of unauthorized administrative access and potential full system compromise.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate upgrading to a patched version of the SimpleFlickr plugin or implementing temporary workarounds such as disabling the affected plugin until a security update is applied. Administrators should also implement additional security measures including regular security audits, monitoring for unauthorized administrative changes, and ensuring that all WordPress plugins are kept current with security patches. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper input validation and CSRF protection implementation in web applications, particularly within administrative interfaces where elevated privileges can be exploited to cause maximum damage to the system.