CVE-2014-9413 in IP Ban
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities in the IP Ban (simple-ip-ban) plugin 1.2.3 for WordPress allow remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that conduct cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks via the (1) ip_list, (2) user_agent_list, or (3) redirect_url parameter in the simple-ip-ban page to wp-admin/options-general.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/09/2022
The CVE-2014-9413 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw in the Simple IP Ban WordPress plugin version 1.2.3, which exposes administrators to significant security risks. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-352 category, specifically addressing cross-site request forgery weaknesses that enable attackers to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users. The flaw exists within the plugin's administrative interface where it fails to implement proper CSRF protection mechanisms for several key parameters that control IP banning functionality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to validate the authenticity of requests originating from the WordPress admin panel. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious requests that target the simple-ip-ban page located at wp-admin/options-general.php, specifically manipulating three vulnerable parameters: ip_list, user_agent_list, and redirect_url. These parameters are designed to allow administrators to configure IP banning rules, but without proper CSRF tokens or request validation, malicious actors can forge requests that appear legitimate to the WordPress admin system. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code through the XSS vector, creating a chain reaction where CSRF attacks can be used to deliver cross-site scripting payloads.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for WordPress administrators who rely on the Simple IP Ban plugin for security management. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain the ability to modify IP banning configurations, potentially allowing malicious IP addresses to bypass security measures or redirect users to malicious websites. The XSS component of this attack vector enables the execution of arbitrary scripts in the context of the victim's browser, which could lead to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the compromised WordPress installation. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1548.002 for privilege escalation and T1566 for phishing attacks, as it enables attackers to manipulate administrative settings and potentially deliver malicious payloads to users.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-9413 require immediate action from affected WordPress administrators. The primary solution involves updating the Simple IP Ban plugin to a version that implements proper CSRF protection mechanisms, specifically by incorporating anti-CSRF tokens for all administrative operations. Additionally, administrators should implement proper input validation and sanitization for all parameters that accept user input, particularly those that modify security configurations. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can help detect and block malicious CSRF requests, while regular security audits should verify that all WordPress plugins implement proper authentication checks. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of validating all administrative requests and implementing comprehensive CSRF protection measures, as outlined in OWASP CSRF prevention guidelines and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege access controls and monitoring for unusual administrative activities that might indicate exploitation attempts.