CVE-2015-2090 in Wordpress Survey And Poll
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the ajax_survey function in settings.php in the WordPress Survey and Poll plugin 1.1.7 for Wordpress allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the survey_id parameter in an ajax_survey action to wp-admin/admin-ajax.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2025
The CVE-2015-2090 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw in the wordpress survey and poll plugin version 1.1.7, specifically targeting the ajax_survey function within the settings.php file. This vulnerability exists within the administrative ajax endpoint at wp-admin/admin-ajax.php, making it accessible to remote attackers without authentication. The flaw stems from improper input validation of the survey_id parameter, which is processed directly within sql query construction without adequate sanitization or parameterization. The vulnerability is categorized under cwe-89 sql injection, which is a well-documented weakness in web applications where user-supplied data is improperly integrated into sql commands. This particular implementation flaw allows attackers to manipulate the sql query execution flow by injecting malicious sql code through the survey_id parameter, effectively bypassing normal authentication and authorization mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary sql commands on the underlying database server. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, and administrative details stored within the wordpress database. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it operates through the standard wordpress ajax interface, which is commonly enabled and frequently used by legitimate users, making detection more challenging. Attackers can perform various malicious activities such as data modification, deletion of survey responses, or even privilege escalation within the database. The vulnerability affects wordpress installations running the specific plugin version 1.1.7, with the attack surface limited to systems where the plugin is active and the ajax functionality is enabled. This type of vulnerability aligns with attack techniques described in the mitre att&ck framework under the execution and credential access phases, specifically targeting database access and command execution capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-2090 require immediate action including plugin version updates to the latest available release that addresses the sql injection vulnerability. System administrators should implement proper input validation and parameterization techniques to prevent similar issues in custom code implementations. The wordpress core team and plugin developers should enforce secure coding practices including prepared statements and proper input sanitization before processing user-supplied data. Network-level defenses such as web application firewalls can help detect and block malicious sql injection attempts, though these should complement rather than replace proper code-level fixes. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in ajax requests and database access logs. Organizations should conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar sql injection vulnerabilities in other plugins and custom applications. The remediation process must include thorough testing of updated versions to ensure no regression issues are introduced, while also verifying that the fix properly addresses the specific parameter handling in the ajax_survey function. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege for database accounts used by wordpress applications can limit the potential damage even if other vulnerabilities exist within the system.