CVE-2015-9307 in wp-google-map-plugin Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The wp-google-map-plugin plugin before 2.3.10 for WordPress has CSRF in the add/edit location feature.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2025
The wp-google-map-plugin vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-9307 represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw affecting WordPress installations. This vulnerability specifically impacts versions prior to 2.3.10 of the popular wp-google-map-plugin, which is widely used for integrating Google Maps functionality into WordPress websites. The issue arises within the plugin's add/edit location feature, where proper CSRF protection mechanisms are absent or insufficiently implemented. The vulnerability allows authenticated attackers with access to a victim's session to perform unauthorized actions on the target WordPress site without the victim's knowledge or consent.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the absence of proper anti-CSRF tokens in the plugin's administrative forms used for adding or editing map locations. When administrators or authorized users navigate to the location management interface, the plugin fails to generate and validate unique, unpredictable tokens that would verify the legitimacy of the request origin. This omission creates a condition where malicious actors can craft specially crafted requests that, when executed by an authenticated user, perform unintended operations such as creating new map locations, modifying existing entries, or potentially deleting location data. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the WordPress admin interface where users typically have elevated privileges and access to sensitive data management functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data modification, as it can enable attackers to manipulate geospatial data within WordPress installations. This could lead to misinformation campaigns where false location data is injected into map displays, potentially affecting business operations, emergency services, or user trust in location-based information. Additionally, the vulnerability may serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, allowing threat actors to establish persistent presence within the WordPress environment or to gather intelligence about the site's configuration and data structure. The attack vector requires minimal sophistication as it only requires the victim to be authenticated and to interact with a maliciously crafted page or link, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users may encounter phishing attempts or compromised websites.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately upgrade to version 2.3.10 or later of the wp-google-map-plugin to receive the necessary CSRF protection patches. Security teams should also implement network monitoring to detect suspicious administrative activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in software applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to technique T1078.004 for valid accounts and T1566.001 for spearphishing attachments, as exploitation typically requires an authenticated user session and may be delivered through social engineering campaigns. Additional mitigations include implementing Content Security Policy headers, regular security audits of WordPress plugins, and maintaining updated security baselines that include proper input validation and request origin verification mechanisms.