CVE-2015-10104 in Icons for Features Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/30/2023
A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, has been found in Icons for Features Plugin 1.0.0 on WordPress. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the file classes/class-icons-for-features-admin.php. The manipulation of the argument redirect_url leads to open redirect. The attack may be launched remotely. Upgrading to version 1.0.1 is able to address this issue. The name of the patch is 63124c021ae24b68e56872530df26eb4268ad633. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component. The identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-227756.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/24/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-10104 represents a critical open redirect flaw within the Icons for Features Plugin version 1.0.0 for WordPress platforms. This security weakness resides in the classes/class-icons-for-features-admin.php file and specifically exploits the redirect_url argument parameter. The flaw enables attackers to manipulate the redirect functionality in a manner that could potentially redirect users to malicious websites, creating a significant risk for end users who interact with compromised WordPress installations. The vulnerability's classification as remotely exploitable means that attackers can initiate the attack without requiring physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in web application environments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the plugin's administrative interface. When the redirect_url parameter is processed, the system fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary URLs that will be used in subsequent redirect operations. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-601, which specifically addresses open redirect vulnerabilities where applications redirect users to unvalidated external URLs. The flaw operates at the application layer, affecting the WordPress plugin ecosystem and potentially compromising user trust through deceptive redirect mechanisms that could be used for phishing attacks or malware distribution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple redirect manipulation, as it creates opportunities for advanced persistent threats and social engineering campaigns. Attackers can craft malicious URLs that appear legitimate but redirect users to phishing pages or sites hosting malicious payloads, effectively bypassing user security awareness. The remote exploitation capability means that threat actors can target vulnerable WordPress installations from anywhere on the internet, without requiring local network access or system compromise. This vulnerability affects not only the specific plugin but also the broader WordPress ecosystem, as compromised installations can serve as entry points for more extensive attacks, potentially leading to full system compromise or data exfiltration.
Security mitigation for CVE-2015-10104 requires immediate action to upgrade the affected Icons for Features Plugin to version 1.0.1, which contains the necessary patch identified by the commit hash 63124c021ae24b68e56872530df26eb4268ad633. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the vulnerable plugin across their WordPress installations and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place. The remediation process should include verification of the patch application through checksum validation and comprehensive testing to confirm that the redirect functionality operates correctly without security implications. Additionally, implementing network-level protections such as web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious redirect patterns can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date third-party components in web applications and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers social engineering through malicious redirects, emphasizing the need for robust input validation and output encoding practices throughout the software development lifecycle.