CVE-2015-10131 in TFO Graphviz Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/31/2024
A vulnerability was found in chrisy TFO Graphviz Plugin up to 1.9 on WordPress and classified as problematic. Affected by this issue is the function admin_page_load/admin_page of the file tfo-graphviz-admin.php. The manipulation leads to cross site scripting. The attack may be launched remotely. Upgrading to version 1.10 is able to address this issue. The name of the patch is 594c953a345f79e26003772093b0caafc14b92c2. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component. The identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-258620.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-10131 represents a cross site scripting vulnerability within the chrisy TFO Graphviz Plugin for WordPress, specifically affecting versions up to 1.9. This plugin facilitates the creation and display of graphviz diagrams within WordPress environments, making it a potentially attractive target for attackers seeking to exploit administrative interfaces. The vulnerability resides within the admin_page_load/admin_page function of the tfo-graphviz-admin.php file, which processes administrative page loads and displays. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary script code into the administrative interface, creating a persistent threat vector that could be exploited by unauthorized users with administrative privileges or through social engineering techniques. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross site scripting flaws in software applications.
The technical execution of this vulnerability occurs when administrators or users with appropriate privileges access the affected plugin's administrative pages. The function admin_page_load/admin_page fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied input before rendering it within the HTML output, creating an opening for malicious script injection. Attackers can craft specially formatted input that gets executed in the context of the administrator's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, privilege escalation, or data exfiltration. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not need physical access to the system, but can leverage web-based attack vectors to compromise the WordPress installation. This vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and highlights the importance of implementing proper output encoding for all dynamic content within administrative interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to the WordPress administrative interface and potentially compromise the entire web application. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to modify plugin settings, create new administrator accounts, inject malicious content into the website, or even establish persistent backdoors within the WordPress environment. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that WordPress administrators often have elevated privileges and access to sensitive system data. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which involves executing code through command and scripting interpreters, and T1071, which covers application layer protocol usage. The compromise of administrative interfaces represents a critical threat to the overall security posture of WordPress installations, as it provides attackers with the ability to manipulate core application functionality and user data.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading the affected plugin to version 1.10, which includes the patch identified by commit hash 594c953a345f79e26003772093b0caafc14b92c2. This upgrade addresses the core sanitization issue within the admin_page_load/admin_page function by implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security measures such as web application firewalls, regular security audits of installed plugins, and monitoring for suspicious administrative activities. The patch demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and highlights the need for developers to follow secure coding practices, particularly when handling user input in administrative contexts. Security professionals should also consider implementing principle of least privilege access controls and regular penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other WordPress plugins or themes that may be present in the affected environment.