CVE-2014-9520 in InfiniteWP Admin Panel
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in execute.php in InfiniteWP Admin Panel before 2.4.4 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the historyID parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9520 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the InfiniteWP Admin Panel application, specifically affecting versions prior to 2.4.4. This security weakness resides in the execute.php script where the historyID parameter is improperly validated and sanitized, creating an avenue for malicious actors to manipulate database queries. The InfiniteWP Admin Panel serves as a centralized management tool for wordpress websites, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could potentially compromise multiple wordpress installations under a single administrative interface. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious sql code directly into the application's database layer through the historyID parameter, bypassing normal authentication and authorization mechanisms.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses sql injection weaknesses in software applications. The technical implementation flaw occurs when user input from the historyID parameter is directly concatenated into sql queries without proper sanitization or parameterization. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious input that alters the intended sql query execution path, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of input validation and output encoding practices that are fundamental to preventing sql injection attacks. The remote nature of this exploit means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or local network privileges, making it particularly concerning for administrators managing multiple wordpress sites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges and gain deeper system access. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially execute arbitrary sql commands that might allow them to extract sensitive information from the database, modify existing records, or even insert new malicious entries. In the context of the InfiniteWP Admin Panel, which typically manages multiple wordpress installations, a successful exploitation could provide attackers with access to credentials, content, and configuration data across all managed sites. This vulnerability also aligns with several attack techniques documented in the mitre ATT&CK framework under the database persistence and credential access domains, as it enables attackers to establish long-term access to database resources and potentially extract administrative credentials.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-9520 should prioritize immediate patching of the InfiniteWP Admin Panel to version 2.4.4 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to properly validate and sanitize the historyID parameter. Organizations should implement proper input validation mechanisms that reject or sanitize any sql metacharacters in user-supplied parameters before processing. Additionally, implementing database query parameterization techniques and using prepared statements would significantly reduce the risk of sql injection exploitation. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of the InfiniteWP Admin Panel to only authorized administrative users. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other applications within the infrastructure. The remediation process should also include monitoring database logs for suspicious activity and implementing intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts. Security best practices such as principle of least privilege and regular security updates should be enforced across all managed wordpress installations to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.