CVE-2015-9308 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 map feature.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2025
The wp-google-map-plugin vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-9308 represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw affecting WordPress users who employ this mapping plugin. This vulnerability specifically impacts versions prior to 2.3.10 and resides within the add/edit map functionality of the plugin. The issue arises from the absence of proper anti-CSRF protection mechanisms in the plugin's administrative interfaces, creating a significant security risk for WordPress installations that utilize this mapping solution. The vulnerability allows attackers to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users who are logged into their WordPress admin panels, potentially leading to complete compromise of the affected systems.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to validate the origin of requests made to its administrative endpoints. When users access the add or edit map features within the WordPress admin interface, the plugin does not enforce proper request validation or implement anti-CSRF tokens in the form submissions. This omission creates a condition where an attacker can craft malicious requests that appear to originate from legitimate administrative sessions. The vulnerability operates under CWE-352 which classifies cross-site request forgery as a weakness where the application does not adequately validate that requests are being made by the intended user. Attackers can exploit this by tricking authenticated users into visiting malicious websites or clicking on compromised links that automatically submit requests to the vulnerable plugin's administrative endpoints.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation to potentially enable complete system compromise. An attacker who successfully exploits this CSRF vulnerability could add malicious maps with embedded malicious code, modify existing map configurations to redirect users to phishing sites, or even create maps that serve as attack vectors for further exploitation. The vulnerability particularly affects WordPress sites that rely heavily on geographic mapping features, making it especially dangerous for businesses, government entities, or organizations that use the plugin for public-facing applications. Given that WordPress powers over 40% of websites globally, the potential attack surface for this vulnerability is extensive, and the impact could be severe for organizations whose security posture depends on the integrity of their mapping functionalities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate plugin updates to version 2.3.10 or later, which contain the necessary anti-CSRF protections. Organizations should also implement additional security measures including network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces, implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious requests, and conducting regular security audits of installed plugins. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1548.003 which involves bypassing security measures through manipulation of authentication mechanisms. Security teams should also consider implementing proper input validation and output encoding practices, establish monitoring for unusual administrative activities, and ensure that all WordPress installations maintain current versions of plugins and core software to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited. Regular security assessments of third-party plugins and maintaining detailed audit logs of administrative activities remain critical defensive measures against such CSRF attacks.