CVE-2015-2293 in WordPress SEO
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities in admin/class-bulk-editor-list-table.php in the WordPress SEO by Yoast plugin before 1.5.7, 1.6.x before 1.6.4, and 1.7.x before 1.7.4 for WordPress allow remote attackers to hijack the authentication of certain users for requests that conduct SQL injection attacks via the (1) order_by or (2) order parameter in the wpseo_bulk-editor page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/01/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-2293 represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the WordPress SEO by Yoast plugin, affecting multiple version ranges including pre-1.5.7, pre-1.6.4, and pre-1.7.4 releases. This vulnerability resides in the admin/class-bulk-editor-list-table.php file and specifically targets the wpseo_bulk-editor page functionality. The flaw allows remote attackers to exploit the authentication mechanisms of legitimate users by crafting malicious requests that leverage CSRF techniques to manipulate the plugin's administrative interface. The vulnerability manifests through two distinct parameter manipulation vectors: order_by and order parameters, which when improperly validated can enable attackers to inject malicious SQL commands through the bulk editing functionality.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows the established patterns described in CWE-352, which categorizes cross-site request forgery as a fundamental web application security weakness. Attackers can construct malicious web pages or manipulate existing user sessions to submit requests that appear legitimate to the WordPress admin interface. When users with administrative privileges navigate to the affected bulk editor page, the malicious requests can be automatically executed without their knowledge or consent. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it combines CSRF with SQL injection capabilities, creating a multi-layered attack vector that can potentially allow data manipulation, unauthorized access, and information disclosure. The specific parameters order_by and order are processed without adequate validation or anti-CSRF token implementation, making them prime targets for exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple authentication bypass scenarios, as it can enable attackers to perform unauthorized administrative actions within the WordPress environment. When combined with the SQL injection capability, attackers can potentially extract sensitive data from the database, modify user accounts, or even escalate privileges within the WordPress installation. The bulk editor functionality specifically targets multiple posts or pages simultaneously, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as a single successful attack could compromise numerous content items. The vulnerability affects WordPress installations using the Yoast plugin, which is widely adopted across the WordPress ecosystem, meaning that the potential attack surface is extensive. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers legitimate credentials and the abuse of administrative privileges through web application flaws.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-2293 require immediate patching of the affected WordPress SEO by Yoast plugin versions to the recommended secure releases. Administrators should implement comprehensive security monitoring to detect unusual bulk editing activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of proper CSRF token validation mechanisms should be enforced for all administrative pages, particularly those handling bulk operations. Additionally, network-level security controls such as web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers by detecting and blocking suspicious parameter patterns. Regular security audits of WordPress plugins and themes should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities, and the principle of least privilege should be applied to administrative accounts to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management systems to ensure timely updates of all WordPress components and prevent similar vulnerabilities from persisting in their environments.